Walnut Creek merchants expect to cash in this Father's Day

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. (KTVU) - Retail experts predict consumer spending will be strong for Father's Day 2018. 

Retailers and restaurants say it's one of the busiest holidays of the year. 

At Lokanta Mediterranean Grill in Walnut Creek, owner Fevzi Dinc says extra food and extra staff will be needed for the holiday. 

He anticipates that Sunday will be 30 percent busier than normal.

"We are busy. For Sunday, "We're pretty much booked for brunch and dinner," said Dinc.  

People dined out on this Friday night. But come Sunday, some patrons say they'll be dining on a home cooked meal with family.

"I'm cooking my ribs. I do very good ribs," said Rem Barnard, a father and grandfather.

At Dick's Sporting Goods in Pleasant Hill, customers were shopping for Father's Day gifts. One woman says she's buying a gift for her husband. They've raised six children together. 

"He's been a good dad to all the kids. He's been to all their sporting events, all the school events," said Liz Wettstein of Clayton. . 

"Every day is Father's Day. We did it right. We raised them right. They're out there, productive citizens," said Tim Wettstein, a father and grandfather. 

The National Retail Federation finds that love for the important men in our lives translates to strong spending: a near record $15.3 billion this year.

It's second only to last year, which was a 15 year high in the history of the survey.

The largest share of the spending will be on outings with dad. 

"Probably go hit some golf balls. Get him out on the course and show him that I'm a better golfer than he is," says Dylan Furrer of Concord. 

"We're going to a movie and getting dinner," said Ashlee Villa of Concord about how she's celebrating with her husband. 

One man picked up two new mountain bikes his' and her's that his wife bought to celebrate Father's Day. 

"It's a nice little surprise," said Wesley Bautista of Benicia. 

But father of three says the best gift of all is his children. 

His 11-year-old son Kaleb responded with, "I love you so much. You're the best father ever, I would never replace you," 

"Oh my god, thank you," responded his dad Wesley Bautista. 

It's been said people spend more on moms than dads. But not the people we spoke with. They say both are equally important.