Chapel Hill businesses prepare for busy Homecoming weekend

Chapel Hill businesses are looking forward to a boost in sales on Homecoming weekend.

From hotels to restaurants, many businesses see more people and sales than during a normal football weekend.

For the Carolina Inn, it’s not unusual to have a waiting list of 100 to 200 people for Homecoming, wrote Jack Schmidt, general manager of the Carolina Inn, in an email.

He said the Inn is usually sold out just a few hours after reservations are made available.

“Some (customers) get the same room every time they visit and look at the Inn as a home away from home at game time,” he wrote.

John Gorsuch, the director of the UNC Student Stores, also said that Homecoming weekend brings in more business than a regular football weekend.

“A lot of people coming to town adds to the excitement,” he said.
Restaurants see an increase, as well. Ira Green, director of operations at Time-Out, said their business will rise by about 20 to 30 percent.

“It ends up being a very strong weekend,” he said.

“We have generations of parents and students. It’s a great weekend,” he said.

Heather Lugar, retail division manager at Johnny T-shirt, said they prepare for more people by increasing the number of staff working and by stocking up on inventory.

“Homecoming is one of the best weekends to work,” she said.
But Johnny T-shirt doesn’t rely on Homecoming weekends for sales, she added.

“It doesn’t matter what’s going on. Fans always buy T-shirts.”
Rhiannon Childress, a hostess at Top of the Hill, said she enjoys the extra business.

“It’s probably the most stressful weekend to work … (but) it’s also the most fun,” she said.

Steven Torchio, floor manager at Top of the Hill, said the restaurant handles busy situations well.

“We’ve been here for 16 years. Having gone through football seasons, we have our systems honed in,” he said.

“We don’t worry too much about being able to handle it.”

Others also enjoy the stress. Tim Schwab, a UNC Student Stores employee, said the extra business makes the day go by faster.
“I love being busy,” he said.

Not only for-profit businesses enjoy the influx of people.
Emily Bowles, director of communications at the Ackland Art Museum, said she loves seeing the alumni return.

“It’s fun how there’s a buzz in the air … more people out and about,” she said.

Tommy O’Connell, an owner of 411 West, said Homecoming isn’t hard to deal with since they prepare for all weekend nights to be busy.
“We try and limit those (stressful) situations,” he said.

O’Connell said he enjoys the energy that comes with a Homecoming weekend and looks forward to it.

“If you don’t look forward to any University activity, you probably shouldn’t be in business in Chapel Hill,” he said.

Contact the desk editor at
university@dailytarheel.com.