Upon their return to campus, students might have noticed a few new businesses on the old Athens block.
Court Street welcomed a new Under Armour retailer this summer, The House, a product of College Book Store, Inc. The long-vacant lot next to CVS is now plastered with posters preparing passersby for an incoming sushi kitchen, Ginger.
Awaiting revival are both the former Blue Gator and Woolworth’s building, which hasn’t seen foot traffic since the department store closed in 1994.
Many are hesitant to say yet whether Ohio University’s switch to semesters is a driving force for newcomers, but they’re certain the new system is changing the game for Uptown tenants — for better or for worse.
“The semester has already started out busy,” said Josh Thomas, owner of Brenen’s Coffee Café and Chamber of Commerce member. “While we know we’ll be busy this December, we’ll also be slower in the spring, so we won’t know (the effects of semesters) until next year.”
Aside from the holiday rush that restaurants and retailers are anticipating, Thomas said students’ daily schedules are boosting business, too.
“What we’ve found with semesters so far is that the different class times are benefitting us,” he said. “Most businesses uptown were expecting a rush on the hour, but semesters keep people on the streets all day long, and that’s a good thing.”
But the semester change has not been as favorable to others on the opposite side of the spectrum. Bookstores are grieving the loss of a Spring-Quarter book rush, as well as Moms Weekend in May.
Andrew Stout, assistant manager of College Book Store, said the change to semesters will affect sales dramatically at the corner store and predicts it will have a similar impact on fellow textbook vendors. Instead of raising prices, College Book Store will offset its loss by not hiring a temporary staff in the spring, as it usually would.
And though Stout acknowledged the blow bookstores might receive, he agreed other shops would likely see increased business thanks to the new academic year schedule.
“An apparel boutique store will absolutely benefit with the students being here near the holidays,” Stout said about The House. “Any nonacademic seller would point to the semester switch as a benefit, especially in December.”
While OU offices will occupy the newly restored Woolworth’s building for five years, the ground level of the late Blue Gator will soon host a new restaurant.
More information about the buyer will be announced in the next few weeks, Bryan Wharton of Ohio Realty said.
“I’m all for the semester system, and I think it will be great for business,” said Wendy Jakmas, •president of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce, though she said it was too early to say for sure.
With the departure of Specialty Books adding one more vacancy to the pool of open lots just waiting to be brought back to life, the future for Athens is looking bright for potential business owners.
“We have a great opportunity here,” Jakmas said. “We’re going to take it and run with it."
oy311909@ohiou.edu
