CLEVELAND — The success of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Monsters this season isn't just good for fans. It's also good for the restaurants that call Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse home. 

What You Need To Know

  • The success of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Monsters this season is providing an extra boost for businesses at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
  • Karen Small has been cooking in Ohio almost all her life and runs P Street Market at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse

  • Small opened her business at the arena after being approached by Aramark, the vendor that provides food services at the facility

The Cleveland Monsters led the league in attendance for the fourth time in the last five seasons, according to the American Hockey League, and the Cleveland Cavaliers are drawing huge crowds as they fight for survival in the semifinals.

Karen Small has been cooking in northeast Ohio almost all of her life. She’s the chef of P Street Café at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. 

She’s worked as a chef at the arena when LeBron James came back to Cleveland in 2014. She’s been a chef in the city for about 30 years. Early on, she was exposed to the challenges of the food industry.

“I had a restaurant called the Flying Fig that we closed down. When the new landlord came in, he raised our rent by $7,000 a month, so it made it impossible to continue any longer,” she said.

Small had a new opportunity to look forward to.

“At one point I was contacted by Aramark if I was interested in coming here and being that the Cavs were my favorite team of all time, I was like I’m in,” she said.

Small was discovered by Aramark, the vendor that provides food services at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. It all started when the district manager for Aramark stumbled upon her Flying Fig restaurant.

Small isn't just enjoying the added business that comes with the Cavs and Monsters having a longer season than expected. She said she's also doing what she loves while getting to watch her favorite team compete in the semifinals.