WHEELING — Downtown Wheeling business managers say they always see a spike in sales during the annual Ogden Newspapers 20K Classic, scheduled this year for Saturday, May 27. The race brings participants — and potential customers — from all over the nation and the world, who travel to Wheeling to compete or watch the race.

More than 1,200 participants are expected in this year’s race, and many more will stand on the downtown streets to support the runners and walkers.

“Anytime they have events downtown, especially of that caliber, it’s wonderful,” John Delgrande, the manager of River City Ale Works on Main Street, said about the Ogden 20K. The Classic “brings life to downtown,” he said.

He commended Ogden Newspapers for the company’s effort to host the race every year, which he said brings a culturally diverse blend of customers not usually seen in downtown Wheeling.

John Bippus, an assistant manager at the 7-Eleven on Market Street, said both the athletes and spectators who attend the race patronize that store.

“Some of the runners come in here before and after the race to get Gatorade and water,” he said. “When they’re out there getting warmed up, they come in a lot. When the fans are staying here (overnight) for the race, they come in every day.”

In other words, business picks up downtown not only the morning of the race, but also in the days leading up to it as fans travel to Wheeling and check into hotels.

“It definitely generates more business,” said Jesse Lennox, the front desk clerk and bar and restaurant manager for the Wheeling Inn on Main Street. “People who are coming from out of town (to run) the race generally bring family and friends to watch.”

Mary Jo Martin, the office manager at Wheeling Coffee and Spice, said there’s always a surge in customers at the cafe on race day.

“We usually have a crowd the morning of the race,” she said. “We bring in extra doughnuts. Most of the runners will stop for a drink afterward, and some of them will order coffee to take home.”

Wheeling Coffee and Spice even has customers that the Ogden 20K generates who continue to patronize the shop from afar.

“Some of the runners will actually call us later and order coffee, and we ship it out to them,” Martin said.