Boosted sales were not restricted to official sponsors and vendors during the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Bermuda weekend this month.

The three-day Front Street party brought smiles and extra business to a number of stores on Front Street, some of them making the most of the welcome fillip by staying open longer than usual to serve many of the thousands of customers who thronged to the Hamilton Harbour waterfront.

Shalina Johnstone, one of the owners of Dangelini’s Cafe, next to the ferry terminal, said the event gave her business its busiest weekend in six years of business.

“We weren’t officially connected with the event, but we are right on Front Street and everything was taking place right in front of us,” she said.

“I’d say we had more than a thousand customers over the weekend. We were open late on Friday and Saturday. We’re not usually open on Sundays, but we opened on Sunday as well. Our hours were triple what we usually do.

“We were right in the middle of the Kid’s Zone, so people were coming in for ice cream for their children and things like that.”

And she added: “We’re looking forward to the rest of the America’s Cup.”

At tobacconist Chatham House, on the corner of Front Street and Burnaby Street, manager Toni Smith said the tills were smoking hot.

The store also opened later than usual on Friday and Saturday and was open on Sunday, a day when it is normally closed.

Ms Smith said: “We were very busy. We had a lot of traffic and we did very well.

“Sunday was our busiest day for spending. I don’t know if it was the luck of the draw, but we made two individual sales of cigars worth $1,500 and $1,800 on Sunday.”

She added: “We are definitely looking forward to the rest of the America’s Cup. It will definitely bring more business.”

Chewstick’s Hub, also on Front Street, held its own music event on Saturday, coinciding with the event, which ran between October 16-18. The Hub also hosted America’s Cup concert star Maxi Priest for a workshop on the Monday after the weekend races.