With graduation approaching, downtown stores and restaurants are stocking their shelves for the increase in visitors who will be celebrating Auburn's newest alumni. An increase of visitors also means more traffic, so the Auburn Police Department is working with university officials to iron out details.
"It'll be a little bit different since it will be in the stadium this time, but we are fully prepared," said Detective Capt. Tom Stofer. "We'll have plenty of officers on hand to work traffic and help folks get in and out the best we can." Next Monday, 3,139 students are expected to graduate, according to Teresa Whitman-McCall of the Office of Communications and Marketing.
"Sales on average will double in the last two days of the semester," said Trey Johnson, CEO of J & M Bookstore. "Of course the spring is the biggest graduation class so that's the one we put the most emphasis on."
Johnson plans to stock extra T-shirts, frames, cups and "all the different paraphernalia for our newest alumni." They also sell diploma frames, which tends to strike up a friendly competition between other downtown businesses. "We actually specialize in diplomas," said Nicole Brooks, an assistant manager at AuburnArt.com. Brooks said her store will vacuum mount and frame the diploma for the graduate to prevent it from wrinkling or creasing. "I would say that graduation is even bigger than A-Day," she said of her springtime business. To accommodate the increase in business, Brooks said AuburnArt.com will open at 8 a.m. the morning of graduation. However, the owners are not planning on extending their weekend hours.
Molly Finley, senior in biomedical sciences, said she will probably give in and buy a diploma frame.
"A diploma frame isn't really that exciting, but I think it's something you need," Finley said. "And I know if I don't get one now, I'll never get one."
As for the competition, Finley doesn't know which downtown business she'll support.
"Well, my parents are actually going to be paying for it, so I guess we'll get it from whichever store has the best price," she said. "Or wherever they are buying other gifts."
Amsterdam Cafe is also preparing for a busy weekend.
"With it being paired up with Mother's Day this year, we will be extremely busy," said Nick Ciza, an assistant manager at the restaurant.
However, additional servers, bus boys and hostesses will be added to the schedule to accommodate the extra business, Ciza said.
They are also planning on adding two or three more tables, Ciza said.
"We will do specials that weekend, but since we do specials every night, these will just be better and higher end," Ciza said.
Brittany Rickert, senior in communications, is looking forward to having her family in town one last time.
"I know we'll go to dinner at least once with everyone that weekend," said Rickert, who has family coming in from Mobile, Memphis and Charles"Honestly, I don't think my grandmother has ever been to Auburn, so I'll show her around, and she'll probably want to buy something."
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