Sellout crowds for the finale of the "Body Worlds 3" exhibit Sunday were not enough to entice nearby eateries to open.

Even so, business people around Salt Lake City's Library Square applauded the impact of The Leonardo museum's popular exhibit in their neighborhood, citing increased visitation and a sense of cultural opportunity during its four-month run.

"We did not see a lot more sales [but] there's definitely more foot traffic -- and that's a benefit," said Mimi Cruz, general manager of the Night Flight Comics store just outside the library's southeast doors, on The Leonardo side of the building.

"Comparing this year's sales to last year's, I can't say they're way up," she said. "The real benefit is that people are bringing their kids. Exhibits like 'Body Worlds' are educational and entertaining and will encourage kids to read more. What a cool thing to have in our city for so long."

Across 500 South from The Leonardo, Leon Antczak worked on his laptop as he looked through the bay window of Thai Lotus, the restaurant he and his wife, Amronrat, have operated for two years. It was closed Sunday, as were Cannella's restaurant and the Les Madeleines Cafe that flank it.

"Our business was already growing when the exhibit started. So we didn't get a spike from it, but it was part of our growth rate," he said. "With all of the foot traffic, people come by and grab our menus. Sometimes they end up coming back here later."

A couple of women from Taylorsville, Diane Wheeler and Kathie Shafer, had hoped to eat some lunch there Sunday after finishing their "Body Worlds" tour, only to find that the neon "Open" sign they saw was in the window of Dewey's Bail Bonds, not Thai Lotus.

"We don't need him," Wheeler said of Dewey's, but they may return to try Antczak's Thai food, if The Leonardo gets another exhibit that could lure them downtown. However, they wouldn't come for the food alone. "We have a lot of places to eat out south."

Many "Body Worlds" visitors were like Jerry and Carolyn Simmons from St. George. They came to Salt Lake City for their daughter's weekend volleyball tournament, opting to take in the exhibit before driving home. After, they stopped at the Salt Lake Roasting Co. cafe in the library for hot chocolate and to split a couple of desserts.

Not a lot of money there, but 16-year-old Kelci Simmons also purchased more than $50 worth of books -- one on strength training, the other on the human body -- that address her interest in becoming a physical therapist.

To Jason Mathis, executive director of the Salt Lake Chamber's Downtown Alliance, the Simmons' experience reflects "that the larger community wants to support world-class downtown exhibits. … As people throughout the region came to 'Body Worlds,' they helped to create a more vibrant capital city."

Added library spokesman Andrew Shaw: "We've certainly enjoyed having 'Body Worlds' across the plaza from us. It's nice for that building to be active and to see the Library Square idea in full force."

mikeg@sltrib.com