The Toronto Blue Jays’ journey back to the World Series has sparked a boon for retail real estate operators in the club’s hometown and across Canada.

As team clothing and other merchandise sales keep local retailers busy, pubs and restaurants are enjoying a brisk business. The action has been building as the Blue Jays ousted the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners in the American League divisional and championship series, respectively, en route to the club’s first World Series berth since 1993, against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“There’s certain to be a significant economic lift provided by the Blue Jays,” said Andrew Weir, president and CEO of Destination Toronto, told The Toronto Star.

Hotel bookings were also up significantly prior to the start of Friday’s first game of the World Series, according the Star, which cited Destination Toronto figures.

The West Cork Irish Pub, located in the heart of Toronto’s Riverside community, has experienced a surge in business since the Blue Jays hosted the Yankees in early October, Manager Danielle Carey told the Star.

Carey estimated that sales “doubled, if not tripled” on the night of Game 7 of the ALCS against Seattle, adding that the pub’s owner “couldn’t be happier.”

“The atmosphere here was electric,” she recalled of George Springer’s three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Toronto the lead and, ultimately, the win over the Seattle Mariners and World Series berth.

Numan Abu, an employee at The Sports Collection store in Toronto, told the Star that the club’s success had spurred Blue Jays clothing sales.

“Our inventory is extremely low for all the jerseys,” Abu told the Star.

In Ottawa, ball caps, jerseys, T-shirts and almost any other products bearing the team’s logo have been flying off the shelves at the Game On! store in the St. Laurent shopping centre, The Canadian Press reported.

The team’s ALCS hats sold out within hours and certain other items’ availabilities, such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. jerseys, were down to kids’ sizes Friday, according to CP.

“Usually, Jays in October merchandise is so-so because they’re usually not in the playoffs, but this year obviously is a different year altogether,” Bobby Mahomed, the store’s operator, told CP.

“All year they’ve been doing very well, so I can see our Jays’ merchandise numbers much, much higher, maybe 300%, if not more, than [in] previous years.”

Meanwhile, some Vancouver-area bars have not been able to sell enough liquor due to stronger-than-usual demand and a B.C. Government Employees Union strike that has affected distribution.

“It’s just shortages everywhere and if we do run out, then unfortunately we’re just going to have to sell premium spirits as opposed to regular spirits,” David Gilley, general manager of the Red Card pub located in downtown Vancouver told CTV. “That’s what we’re facing at the moment.”

The Series was tied 1-1 after the teams split the first two games in Toronto before shifting to the West Coast for the third, fourth and fifth games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

A single Jays win in L.A. will guarantee more retail action in Toronto and elsewhere as the series moves back to Canada for Game 6 and, possibly, Game 7.

“I would love to see a Game 7 to be honest with you; that would be amazing,” Gilley told CTV.

“If we went Game 7, it would be great for business, it would be great for everything – and then, again, if the Jays win – it’s going to be bonkers in here.”

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