Homecoming can be big money maker or just another day for area merchants
G. R. Gordon-Ross/KANSAN
An employee at Jayhawk Spirit, 935 Massachusetts St., displays goods to prepare for weekend shoppers.
By Carolyn Mollett
Kansan Correspondent
While some merchants in Lawrence have prepared for homecoming with displays and extra merchandise, other stores just don't see the point.
Linda Garrison, manager of Prairie Patches, 811 Massachusetts St., said she thought the homecoming celebration affected only the KU campus.
"They don't do the parade downtown anymore, so we don't see much of homecoming," Garrison said. "Band Day has the same effect that homecoming will. We may get more customers because it's a home football game, but homecoming per se makes no difference to us."
Don Downing, owner of Mary Margaret's, 846 Massachusetts St., agreed with Garrison. Downing said that game days always were a zoo but that his store wouldn't notice a difference between homecoming and other home games. Downing did say it would be unique this year to have Late Night with Roy Williams the night before homecoming.
Inventory increases won't be nec
essary at The Palace, 8 W. Eighth St., according to manager Greg Guenther.
"We already have so many KU things on hand for alumni, we don't need to order any extra," Guenther said.
However, Guenther said he expected a slight increase in business because of the parents and alumni who would attend the game.
"We'll probably have some special discounts and hand out balloons and just encourage people to wear KU garb for fun," he said. "We try to do something like this for every home game."
Courtney Tucker, Hutchinson freshman, said she wished more stores would get into the homecoming spirit.
"If they were to make special homecoming shirts, I would be sure to buy one," Tucker said. "I buy a shirt for every occasion."
But local bookstores plan to demonstrate their spirit by decorating displays for homecoming.
Arrie Boden, Salina sophomore, said, "I think it's really great that local merchants show interest in homecoming by decorating their
stores."
Mike Swalm, assistant manager at the Jayhawk Bookstore, 1420 Crescent Road, said the store would feature distinctive homecoming displays.
"We'll have a special window display devoted to the football team and their fine efforts so far this season," he said.
Swalm said he expected to see an increased number of alumni who came into the store because they would shop for spirit articles.
The Kansas Union Bookstore and the Burge Union Bookstore also will dedicate new displays for the occasion, said manager Mike Reid.
Will Walbum, manager of the Jock's Nitch, 837 Massachusetts St., said the store never did special promotions for the homecoming celebration because the business already existed. He also said he had noticed an increased number of alumni and parents coming in during homecoming weekend.
"I wish we had homecoming every weekend," Walburn said. "The big thing that will hurt everyone this year is that we don't have as many home games."
October 17,1996 The Hill
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