Livin' it up:?student spending
Maria Schmitt
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: Arts
They say there's nothing to do in Hillsdale, but students are still spending their money somewhere. From Family Video to the bar at Chicago Water Grill, students dispense cash on entertainment despite the lack of things to do, they say.
Student spending in Hillsdale ranges from buying only essentials to going tanning, to a bar and out to eat all in one day. While some students spend $10 a week at Wal-Mart buying "essential" food, others exhaust upwards of $40 a week on food, coffee and outings.
Senior Amberle Butler said she spends $20 to $40 a week.
"Now that I think about it, that's a lot of money!" she said.
Butler and senior friends Ashley LaCarter and Abigail Klarr said they take monthly trips to Ann Arbor, Jackson and East Lansing to go shopping and go to nice restaurants.
Butler and friends also said they've spent more money per semester as they've gotten older.
They said access to a car and turning 21 years old changes how much students spend.
"Once you're 21 you can get a glass of wine with dinner, that's five extra dollars right there," LaCarter said.
Thomas Sullivan, sales coordinator and manager at Saucy Dog's Barbeque in Jonesville said many students go to Saucy Dog's on Tuesday nights for 35 cent wings and Thursday nights for $1.50 drafts.
"We get a pretty good crew," he said.
Sullivan said students often go out to their favorite restaurants when graduated friends come back to visit.
"It's something they had beforehand," he said.
Wayne Babcock, owner of Saucy Dog's and the Chicago Water Grill in Jonesville, said a group of six people can easily spend $45 to $50 at the Grill in one visit. Students often visit the Grill with parents who are in town or to drink at the bar.
"We have to plan for the college students when planning the business," Babcock said. "We benefit well from having the college so close."
Babcock tries to gather student attention to his restaurants with specials which he said students respond to.
Student spending in Hillsdale ranges from buying only essentials to going tanning, to a bar and out to eat all in one day. While some students spend $10 a week at Wal-Mart buying "essential" food, others exhaust upwards of $40 a week on food, coffee and outings.
Senior Amberle Butler said she spends $20 to $40 a week.
"Now that I think about it, that's a lot of money!" she said.
Butler and senior friends Ashley LaCarter and Abigail Klarr said they take monthly trips to Ann Arbor, Jackson and East Lansing to go shopping and go to nice restaurants.
Butler and friends also said they've spent more money per semester as they've gotten older.
They said access to a car and turning 21 years old changes how much students spend.
"Once you're 21 you can get a glass of wine with dinner, that's five extra dollars right there," LaCarter said.
Thomas Sullivan, sales coordinator and manager at Saucy Dog's Barbeque in Jonesville said many students go to Saucy Dog's on Tuesday nights for 35 cent wings and Thursday nights for $1.50 drafts.
"We get a pretty good crew," he said.
Sullivan said students often go out to their favorite restaurants when graduated friends come back to visit.
"It's something they had beforehand," he said.
Wayne Babcock, owner of Saucy Dog's and the Chicago Water Grill in Jonesville, said a group of six people can easily spend $45 to $50 at the Grill in one visit. Students often visit the Grill with parents who are in town or to drink at the bar.
"We have to plan for the college students when planning the business," Babcock said. "We benefit well from having the college so close."
Babcock tries to gather student attention to his restaurants with specials which he said students respond to.
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