SALISBURY, Md. — Two downtown Salisbury restaurants are teaming up to give local soccer fans a place to watch and celebrate the World Cup.
The street between Bury Tavern and Roadie Joe's will be blocked off Friday by the city starting at 5 p.m. for a World Cup party. The U.S. doesn't kick off until 9 p.m. in their match against Paraguay, but organizers say there will be plenty to do before then, including one-on-one soccer games, giveaways, and live entertainment.
A 30-foot projector will broadcast the match for fans outside.
For Bury Tavern owner Jordan Townsend, the event is about more than just business. It’s about being a fan of the game.
"Especially soccer, people just want to drink and watch a soccer game and have some good food,” Townsend said. “Everywhere I go, every time I go to the World Cup, it's just, bars are packed, restaurants are packed. So it does a lot for local businesses when people get out, enjoy the games.”
Townsend said one of the biggest draws is downtown Salisbury's to-go alcohol program, which allows patrons to take their drinks outside and walk freely between the two venues — something he's hoping keeps the crowd energized ahead of the 9 p.m. kickoff.
Across the street, staff at Roadie Joe's say the timing of the event couldn't be better.
"For it to be in the USA on our 250th anniversary, all that good stuff…it's just like everything is kind of lined up. So it's like we have to do something, this is huge," Daniel Burke, head chef at Roadie Joe’s, said.
The celebration begins at 5 p.m. Friday in downtown Salisbury.
