Take a walk through the Village on a Sunday afternoon, and the four-block stretch of restaurants and shops might feel more like a ghost town than a destination for food and fun.
Since Ball State University's Spring Semester ended May 2, most students have left campus to return home or pursue summer plans, leaving area businesses to cope with the absence of thousands of potential customers.
Tina Roberts, manager of gifts and greek merchandise at T.I.S. College Bookstore, said the store cut back its hours for the summer.
She said traffic into the store would increase during Ball State's freshman orientation sessions, as incoming students and their parents would explore the area around campus.
In addition to changing its hours, Roberts said T.I.S. would put displays on the sidewalk in front of the building and mark down some items to attract customers.
Shaina Poole, a barista at the mt cup, said one employee would work afternoon and evening shifts for the summer because of fewer customers.
She said two people had worked behind the counter during the school year.
In addition, Poole said, several employees left Muncie for the summer, causing the management to look for new baristas.
Senior education major Robyn Martin said she visited the Village less often during the summer.
"It's nice during the school year because [the Village] is right there, so you can run to get lunch in between classes or pick up a notebook or something," she said. "Now that school's out, since I live by Wal-Mart, it feels like a special trip to go there. I usually only go [to the Village] on the weekends now."
Several stores, such as Discount Den, switched to shorter hours once summer began.
Beyond the Village, other local businesses also have noticed a difference in sales.
Jack's Camera Shop President Mike Powell said the downtown store experienced a slump caused by the university's vacation.
He said Ball State students made up about five percent of Jack's customers.
Because Jack's advertises in phone books throughout the state, Powell said, the store would not alter its hours for the summer.
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