Notre Dame students bring big business to South Bend

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame students return this week and businesses in South Bend could not be happier.

“It’s electrifying. It is exciting. It is booming," said Mulligan’s Owner Patrick Mulligan.

Mulligan said there is no better feeling for business owners in South Bend then when the college kids come back from summer vacation.

“When the college kids come back, South Bend starts to boom and the businesses flourish. It is just a great time for all,” said Mulligan.

Mulligan says Notre Dame students pack the bar when they come back to school.

“It does increase,” said Mulligan.

But he says there are plenty of locals that keep his bar booming throughout the student-less summers.

“We have a tremendous amount of support from locals," said Mulligan.

However Biggby Coffee Shop owner Kathleen Baginske says with her business just opening this April, she depends a lot on the students’ business.

“It was still busy in may when they were still here for the last semester," said Baginske.

She says although she was served up some frozen coffees, the summer has been much slower than during the school year.

“We cut hours a little bit from having three people on a shift to two," said Baginske.

Baginske said although she has budgeted for the slow summer, she cannot wait for the students to come back.

“But we are looking forward to see the students we made friends with last semester that came in and studied," said Baginske.

She said she will have espresso shots waiting for those late night study sessions.