UNCW prepares for student move-in day

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) —  University of North Carolina Wilmington is preparing to welcome a new class of freshman this weekend, and preparations are underway.

Freshman move in day is not until Saturday, but some older students are already back on campus and ready to start a new semester.

Grounds crews worked today landscaping campus and picking up trash.

There are signs directing parents and students where to go for orientation, and older students will help with the move-in process.

“I’m excited, i’m living in a suite with my sorority sisters. And we have freshman move-in tomorrow. So it will be exciting to see all the new people on campus. It’s going to be a lot of work, like six hours long, it’s going to be hot, but we’ll make it fun,” said sophomore Tanner Allen.

But while students can’t wait to get back into action, local businesses are welcoming the kids back with open arms. Jeff Loock is a manager at Might as Well Bar and Grill and he says the students help boost business

“We’ll definitely see a spike in business from the last two weeks of August and through September and December and then we fall off during that winter break and then it picks right back up again, right when kids get back in the middle of January, so yeah it’s definitely noticeable,” Loock said.

Even though it helps the business, he says it helps the staff too.

“When the kids start coming back, it kind of rejuvenates all of us. This is why we’re here, this is why we’re Might as Well. We want to show a good time and good food, for everyone who comes back, and when those kids come back into town, it’s just that rejuvenation that we need in order to keep on doing what we’re doing, keep on pushing out good food and hope we’re entertaining everyone who comes in,” Loock said.

Be advised there could be more traffic near the UNCW campus Saturday, and Target, Walmart, and similar stores could see more crowds.