For many campus-area businesses, the University student population is the source of their livelihood. Although this population is significantly smaller during the summer months — dropping from nearly 18,000 to just more than 5,000 students — these businesses have found ways to still be going strong when students return in the fall.
The Glenwood Restaurant has had 18 years to adjust to summers without students, a process that took some time, owner Jacqui Monninger said.
“The problem was we would hire extra people to cover the weekend of Father’s Day and graduation, but then we would be way overstaffed for the rest of the summer,” Monninger said.
To adjust, Monninger said they “beg, borrow and steal old employees” to cover the busy weekends, but otherwise make do with a smaller staff in the summer.
“It works better for the employees,” Monninger said. “If they want to take the summer off, it’s much easier.”
Larger businesses, such as 7-Eleven and Starbucks run into the same problems at their campus locations.
“We notice about a 10 percent difference in the summer, but it’s not huge,” said Don Scarpelli, the Alder Street 7-Eleven franchisee.
Scarpelli said his branch of the convenience store chain relies heavily upon students for its business, and he has learned after 23 years to watch his payroll in the summer.
“I have to lay off some people, but the employees know coming in that we lose staff in the summer and they can come back the next fall,” Scarpelli said.
Across the intersection, the dilemma is the same.
The Starbucks located on 13th Avenue also slows down in the summer, and shortens its hours to compensate instead of having fewer workers, said manager Jessica Eng.
Rennie’s Landing, a local bar and restaurant, has been serving students for 20 years and adjusts its employees with each term at the University.
“The summer business has gotten better each year,” said Bean, a waitress and bartender.