N. Abilene Local Stores See Decrease in Business, Some Stay Steady After Students Leave
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: May 21, 2012
"Here at our Judge Ely store things have been a little bit quieter since college kids have gone home for the summer and to other various places," said Nikki's Swirshoppe general manager Chelsea Gaulden.
It's summertime, and Nikki's Swirlshoppe is completely dead. After the college students go home, some businesses like Nikki's are seeing a decrease in business.
"We've seen a dramatic difference. We've been a little bit quieter," said Gaulden. "We've had some employee turnover with kids leaving for the summer."
Some businesses are also losing their employees. Nikki's has reached out to the high school kids in search of their new hires.
"Primarily high school students. We have some that are Abilene kids that are natives here, live here and are working here over the summer," Gaulden said. "But primarily high school students that are then stepping up to the bar."
While it's quiet at Nikki's after experiencing a drastic change since all of the college kids left, other businesses in the area are still doing okay.
"Even with them being absent, we haven't seen much of a decrease just because we hit on all levels and all ages," said Andy Nunceio, owner of Wholly Cow.
Just one block over on Judge Ely Blvd, Wholly Cow hasn't seen any sort of loss in business or employees due to the small percent of college student business.
"I'd say maybe 15 to 20 percent, it's not as much as a lot of people would think. It's burgers, so it's pretty diverse. We don't get just college kids, we get a little bit of everything," Nunceio said.
Even though Wholly Cow has only been open since October, the surprise rise in business when students went home for winter break shows hope for this summer.
"During Christmas we actually saw an increase. So we're not too sure being our first year, we'll see what the summer holds for us," said Nunceio. "But i think it should be okay because like i said, we hit on all ages."
It's summertime, and Nikki's Swirlshoppe is completely dead. After the college students go home, some businesses like Nikki's are seeing a decrease in business.
"We've seen a dramatic difference. We've been a little bit quieter," said Gaulden. "We've had some employee turnover with kids leaving for the summer."
Some businesses are also losing their employees. Nikki's has reached out to the high school kids in search of their new hires.
"Primarily high school students. We have some that are Abilene kids that are natives here, live here and are working here over the summer," Gaulden said. "But primarily high school students that are then stepping up to the bar."
While it's quiet at Nikki's after experiencing a drastic change since all of the college kids left, other businesses in the area are still doing okay.
"Even with them being absent, we haven't seen much of a decrease just because we hit on all levels and all ages," said Andy Nunceio, owner of Wholly Cow.
Just one block over on Judge Ely Blvd, Wholly Cow hasn't seen any sort of loss in business or employees due to the small percent of college student business.
"I'd say maybe 15 to 20 percent, it's not as much as a lot of people would think. It's burgers, so it's pretty diverse. We don't get just college kids, we get a little bit of everything," Nunceio said.
Even though Wholly Cow has only been open since October, the surprise rise in business when students went home for winter break shows hope for this summer.
"During Christmas we actually saw an increase. So we're not too sure being our first year, we'll see what the summer holds for us," said Nunceio. "But i think it should be okay because like i said, we hit on all ages."
