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Some UA-area businesses feel spring break pinch

By Rachael Myer
Arizona Daily Wildcat
March 22, 1999
Send comments to:
letters@wildcat.arizona.edu

Spring break may have cost you a ton of cash, but local vendors didn't see much of it.

University of Arizona-area vendors cited a range of reasons - from the NCAA loss by the men's basketball team to the Fourth Avenue Street Fair - for fluctuations in business last week.

David Ellis, owner of Zachary's Pizza, 1019 E. 6th St., said he closed the store Monday because not enough employees could come to work. About half of the store's 25 employees are UA students, he said.

"I elected to close one day to keep us from being stretched too thin," he said.

Ellis said that customers were temporarily displeased, but he thinks they will return to the restaurant.

"We're there for people all the time," he said. "It was appropriate I think."

However, Ellis said the remainder of spring break business was generally successful.

Erik Friends, an assistant manager at University Drug Co., said business slowed down "a little" but the store did not lose any money.

"We still had enough to keep us going because of all the international students," said Friends, a UA business management sophomore. "The store can still function. It's just a lot better when school is in session."

To prepare for the break, managers at University Drug Co., 943 E. University Blvd., did not stock as many products but still carried all the same items, he said. The store closed one hour earlier than normal - at 8 p.m. - during spring break, Friends added.

"You don't buy as much when there isn't as much income coming in," he said. "It's nothing different than any other business would do."

Jeremy Castle, a manager of Campus Athletic, 936 E. University Blvd., said the store's spring break sales took a hit when the UA men's basketball team was ousted from the NCAA Tournament.

"If the athletic teams are doing well, the students want to buy U of A stuff because they are proud of their school," said Castle, a UA psychology junior.

However, this weekend's Fourth Avenue Street Fair and Arizona State Museum visitors helped increase business, he said.

During spring break, Campus Athletic staffed one less employee a day. During summer vacation, the store typically cuts five staff members because sales drop about 75 percent, he added.

But the absence of UA students increased business for Cold Stone Creamery Inc. by making more room for Tucson families, said Andriza Morales, a shift leader.

"Other times there is no room because students are filling it up," Morales said of the lack of space in the store, 1927 E. Speedway Blvd.

The store earns about $1,600 in sales in an average week but made about $1,900 last week, Morales said.

She said the store officials doubled some of its stock to prepare for the week after noticing increased sales during previous spring breaks, she added.

Thom Merkle, a Gentle Ben's Brewing Co. part-time manager, said the store lost about one-half the bar business they normally have on their weekly Thursday "College Night."

"There still was a good crowd but we just didn't end up opening the ground floor like we normally do," Merkle said.

The lunch business was more than expected at the restaurant, located at 865 E. University Blvd., he said.

The Les Miserables production at UA's Centennial Hall also helped draw in customers, Merkle added.

UA-orchestrated events draw more Tucson locals to the university area than about 10 to 20 years ago, said U of A Liquors Manager Richard Berger.

"The university has done a good job of attracting visitors to events and made it a pleasant place for people to come to," said Berger, who earned a management bachelor's and master's degree from the UA.

Berger said the liquor store, 1002 E. 6th St., was not substantially affected by vacationing students.

"Our main clientele are not students because many of them are not 21," he said.

However, about five of his seven employees are UA students, he said.

The store officials had to juggle shifts to accommodate the employees leaving for the break, Berger said.

Rachael Myer can be reached at Rachael.Myer@wildcat.arizona.edu.