VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Syracuse businesses adapt as college students leave for summer
Jack: With June in full swing most Syracuse University students are back in their hometowns for the summer. But that begs the question, what do local businesses that depend on these students as their main consumer base do for the next three months? We checked in with a couple owners and operators to see how they navigate the dog days of summer.
Jack: Marshall street is a hot spot for Syracuse students during the school year. But once summer hits, the popular strip largely empties out. Luke has owned the lunch joint purple banana for three years now. He says that while business does slow down, purple banana has garnered a loyal following from Upstate Medical and Crouse Health employees.
Luke Nicolette: You know I wouldn’t exist without them, because when college students aren’t here they fill in the gaps nicely. So yeah they make a big impact. Ironically you just saw fifteen health workers in here that all got a smoothie.
Jack McGuire: One newcomer on the block is Collegetown Bagels, as it opened up just last August. Manager Patty Genovese says they have prepared to deal with summer by relying on local marketing.
Patty Genovese: We’ve sent out flyers to Upstate, you know, Crouse, trying to get some of the faculty at S-U to come down. And it’s been picking up since that happened.
Jack McGuire: Patty also says they are implementing mobile strategies to help with the decline in customers.
Patty Genovese: We also do catering. We had an order yesterday that came through for twenty-five sandwiches for today, so we’re picking up that way.
Jack McGuire: Patty and Luke both mentioned that they embrace summer as it gives employees a chance to recalibrate and even in some cases, enjoy shorter shifts. Jack McGuire, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, NY (NCC News)— With Syracuse University students heading home for the summer, Marshall Street, a popular hub for student activity, sees a significant drop in foot traffic. Local businesses that rely heavily on student customers are finding creative ways to navigate the quieter months.
Luke Nicolette has owned Purple Banana, a popular lunch joint, for three years. He said his business has built a loyal customer base among employees from Upstate Medical Center and Crouse Health.
Nicolette thinks this helps offset the absence of students.
I wouldn’t exist without them because when college students aren’t here, they fill in the gaps nicely,” said Nicolette. “You just saw 15 health workers in here that all got a smoothie.
Collegetown Bagels, a newer addition to the street since opening last August, is also adapting. Manager Patty Genovese said the business has focused on local marketing to attract new customers.
“We’ve sent out flyers to Upstate, Crouse, trying to get some of the faculty at SU to come down,” Genovese said. “It’s been picking up since that happened.”
Genovese added that mobile strategies, such as catering services, are helping to boost revenue. A recent order for 25 sandwiches is an example of how the business is diversifying its approach.
Both Nicolette and Genovese noted that the summer slowdown offers a silver lining, allowing employees to recalibrate and enjoy shorter shifts. As Syracuse businesses brace for the dog days of summer, these strategies are keeping them resilient until students return in the fall.