Thousands mourned the death of former first lady Nancy Reagan at the Simi Valley library and museum that bears the family name, providing a short-term stimulus to the local economy. The need for food and coffee resulted in packed restaurants and cafes along Madera Road, the main thoroughfare leading to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library, the week after Reagan’s death March 6. At a nearby Starbucks, Reagan’s midmorning Friday funeral was likely the reason for the crowd that started at the 5 a.m. opening and didn’t stop all day, said Lindsey Hill, shift supervisor. “We sold out of breakfast sandwiches by 8 a.m.,” Hill said. “I was off at 12:30, but the entire day was nonstop. It was crazy.” The coffee shop normally serves about 300 customers between its predawn opening and 1 p.m., Hill said, but that day it served 550. By the end of the day, it had served 700 customers versus the usual 500. “There were a lot of big orders, too – reporters buying for crews,” she said. “I had someone come in and order 20 breakfast sandwiches.” Public viewing Reagan’s body was brought to the library late Wednesday morning after a private family ceremony in Santa Monica. The public was allowed to view her Wednesday afternoon and then Thursday morning till early afternoon. Restaurant and coffee shops said they began seeing extra traffic Wednesday and it continued through Friday, even though the funeral was not public. Fire Island Grill said it was extra busy in the midweek – likely because of the public viewing, but slowed by Friday. Original Tommy’s chili burger eatery was busier than usual Wednesday through Friday, said employee Adriana Garcia, and many customers wore the stickers required for entrance to the library. Some restaurants didn’t see any extra traffic during the week despite being close to the library. Simi’s director of economic development, Brian Gabler, said in an email that he hadn’t heard of any boost in business, but food or fuel purchases might have generated extra revenue. The lighter-than-expected traffic at some restaurants could have been because one of the library’s pubs was open to media crews Wednesday and Thursday till early evening, and Friday between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m., according to the library’s website. The library also provided water, coffee and box lunches for free at certain times. That didn’t stop crowds from going to Carl’s Jr. on Friday. The surge began around 11 a.m. and continued till about 4 p.m., said employee Shanna Thompson. “It was steady, constant,” she said. “They just kept coming in.”