Salisbury businesses say back to school sales from SU to help end summer slump
SALISBURY, Md – Salisbury businesses say the move-in day for the school is delivering them a much-needed sales boost.
“It’s a big week, one of the biggest weeks in Salisbury this and graduation week, probably the two big ones, but, you know, 8,000 undergraduates and graduates coming to town with their parents and their friends and family, it’s a boon for the restaurants, it’s a boon for our taverns and bars,” said Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce Bill Chambers.
Those numbers have businesses near the university, like the Irish Penny, excited hoping to overcome a summer slump.
“We look forward to everybody coming back to the teachers and all the staff for the anniversary, plus the students, of course, drop off week,” Owner Jeff Tivits.
Over at Taylor’s BBQ, they are excited for visitors to see their new location, hoping to build repeat business, but both restaurants say, it’s not just those sales, the influx of students also means a reliable workforce, often, just a walking distance away.
“I’m standing right now in the pit behind us it’s all college housing, so we’re pretty excited to see what flow of students we’re going to get and the crowd and to welcome back all the parents,” said Taylor BBQ Owner Joey Calabrese.
For Mojos in Downtown Salisbury, they say they have already seen that sales bump as Ross building residents moved in earlier this week.
They hope having students just across the street will help them- and other downtown businesses throughout the school year.
“We are in competition with each other, but we all want to work together to make sure that downtown succeeds, so it’s great to have those extra bodies down here to try to bring it back up to where it should be,” said manager Barry Snowden.
Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce President Bill Chambers says most restaurants are 30 percent down in sales compared to last year, but now workers can expect to earn more money for their work thanks to a red-hot labor market, and the promise of 15-hour minimum wage set to start January.
