Monday, May 8, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 3
Area businesses prepare for graduation weekend
By Amber Huntzinger
By Amber Hummingger Special to the Kansan
As graduation approaches and students scramble with last-minute preparations for commencement, area businesses welcome the graduation crowd with advertisements, specials and plenty of graduation necessities.
On graduation weekend, which this year begins May 19, Lawrence usually is bombarded with people from across the country. Businesses open their doors to the crowds, hoping to profit from the extra shoppers.
"The revenue helps because it is a slow time of year," said Cinda Garrison, owner of Prairie Patches, 821 Massachusetts St. "It is important for spring sales."
Area restaurants also are affected by the visitors who pack their businesses every year during graduation time. For the weekend, restaurants boost their staffs, bulk up on preparation work and get ready to serve drove of hungry people.
Kris Kaminsky, assistant manager at Mass. Street Deli, 941 Massachusetts St., said the restaurant usually had to deal with customer increases in big groups.
Fifi Piden, owner of Fifi's, 925 Iowa St., said that graduation was the restaurant's busiest period, with the exceptions of New Year's and
Valentine's Dav.
This time of year, many students are getting ready to head out of town after graduation.
"They pack up to leave and come for breakfast," Eric Cleveland, general manager at Paradise Cafe, 728 Massachusetts St. said.
To attract visitors, businesses place advertisements geared toward graduation in local newspapers and display their graduation products and specials.
Megan Morris, an employee at Johnny's Tavern, 401 N 2nd St., said the establishment usually had some drink specials.
Chad Wilkerson, manager at Jayhawk Spirit, 935 Massachusetts St., said that the business took out advertisements both in the Laurence Journal-World and the Kansan.
Paden also said she usually placed ads in both papers and also urged people to call Fifi's for reservations if they had not already.
Prairie Patches sets up displays with graduation gift ideas that can take students into the real world or serve as moments.
Garrison said, "We try to get parents in and to remember where we are."
Because advertising doesn't always reach the right audience, Prairie Patches is starting Jayhawk Heaven, an online store. Garrison
said she hoped Jayhawk Heaven would be a good reference for the out-of-town graduation crowd in the future.
"We sell many graduation gifts because we do a lot of custom things." she said.
Wilkerson said that Jayhawk Spirit sold graduation necessities such as diploma holders and announcements, but that gift items such as frames and T-shirts also were popular this time of year.
Marian Wroczynski, manager at Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Road, said that the store sold caps and gowns throughout the year, as well as souvenir tassels and autograph books. She said Jayhawk souvenirs were the store's trade.
To prepare for the increase in big groups, Mass, Street Deli may put its cheesecakes on sale along with a new sandwich that feeds five people.
Ryan Rodenberg, co-owner of the Brown Bear Brewing Co., 729 Massachusetts St., said that the establishment played host to many private graduation parties, and that booked bands for the parties upon customer request.
Paradise Cafe, 728 Massachusetts St, caters to alumni by putting an "old favorite" on special.
Fifi's offers a special menu.
Paden said, "It is condensed for us to serve people faster."
Few vacancies remain at area hotels
By Jaclyn Johnson
Special to the Kansan
"We've been booked for about four months," said Judy Price, manager of Westminster Inn, 2525 W. Sixth St.
There's no room at the inn.
Anyone trying to get a hotel room in Lawrence for graduation weekend probably will be turned away.
Running out of rooms seems to be a common problem at hotels throughout Lawrence. Some guests of graduation will stay in Topeka, Kansas City or with graduates during graduation because of the shortage.
"We've been booked for at least three months, and we've been directing people to Kansas City and Topeka for that weekend," said Mary Baxka, manager of the Bismarck Inc. 1130 N. Third St.
"I think my parents are going to stay in Topeka because everything out here is full," said Jay Jones, Independence senior, said.
Making reservations early, as much as a year in advance, seems to be the only way to get a room in Lawrence. Hotels in Lawrence will accept reservations for next year's commencement ceremony as soon as this year's commencement ends. Next year's ceremony is scheduled for May 20.
"People start making reservations a year in advance," said Chris Graves, manager of the Eldridge Hotel, 701 Massachusetts St.
"My parents are smart," said Yani Sherar, Philadelphia senior. "They made reservations at the beginning of the school year so they are staying in town."
Most hotels raised their prices in expectation of the
flood of people coming for the celebrations.
The Westminster Inn's prices rose from $61 to $71, and the Eldridge Hotel increased from $100 to $157. Those increases are typical of the price changes being made for the special weekend.
"Rates go up for the weekend," said Beth Nichols, manager of the Hampton Inn, 2300 W. Sixth St. "We know people have to stay and are willing to pay just about anything."
Graves also said that it seemed everyone was willing to pay the higher prices.
Nichols said, "Last year was a mess, people were walking in at the last minute wanting a room."
Jody Flaugher, manager of the Super 8 Motel, 515 McDonald Dr., said, "We already people who are making reservations for next year's graduation."
People who don't have a room yet still have some hope. Sometimes there are a few last minute cancellations, but they get snatched up quickly.
"Last year, we had some cancellations on the last day, but they were filled the same day." Graves said.
"We are usually full every weekend, but we filled up a year early for graduation weekend," said Rochelle Bailev, manager of the Halcyon House.
A bed and breakfast also is an alternative to a hotel or motel. They have fewer rooms, and generally fill up more quickly. The Halcyon House Bed and Breakfast, 1000 Ohio St., and the Victorian Veranda Country Inn, 1431 N. 1900 Road, are two Lawrence options.
Karen Walker, Victorian Veranda employee, said,
"Rates go up, and we have a minimum three-night stay for the weekend, but that doesn't seem to faze anyone for graduation weekend."
The University has made arrangements and accommodations to handle the large number of people expected to arrive May 21, graduation day. Park and ride arrangements have been made for the public. And for those not able to get to graduation, arrangements to see it at home also have been made. The campus television station, KUJH, will broadcast the ceremony live on channel 73.
Ellsworth to house graduates' guests
By David Winbush
Special to the Kansan
Graduation brings thousands of people to Lawrence to see their children, relatives and friends make that monumental walk down the Hill. To help solve some of the overcrowding problems, the University of Kansas is turning Ellsworth Residence Hall into a temporary hotel.
Because all the Lawrence hotels are full for the weekend, the University has created another possibility for families and friends. Ellsworth Hall will be available for families and guests to stay in Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, May 19-21, said Ken Stoner, director of student housing.
Many students said that the residence hall accomodations would be useful if they had know about the option. Rooms in Ellsworth have been available during graduation for 12 years, and organizers said that the option had helped to alleviate some accommodation problems.
Matt Ostmeyer, Oberlin senior, said his family was not staying in Ellsworth, but he said they might have considered it if they had known of the offer.
"My family have had reservations at the Ramada for a while," he said. "I don't know, maybe they would have used Ellsworth if they had known about it. It would have saved them money."
Rooms are still available in Ellsworth Hall.
"All of Elsworth is available, but so far this is probably going to be the lightest turnout in the all the eight years I've been here," said Randy Timm, student housing conference coordinator.
Timm said he thought that the small number of reservations was because of the increase in the number of hotels in Lawrence.
Ellsworth will be the only hall available. Rates are $36 per night for double occupancy and $29 for single occupancy. Rates include one meal in the Ekdahl Dining Commons for each night. Additional meals may be purchased.
reservations should be made by phone in advance by calling Randy Timm at (785) 864-4560.
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