Back to School for Worcester Co-eds

(NECN: Brendan Monahan, Worcester, Mass.) -- Smaller crowds are almost a distant memory for Annie Jenkins, of Annie's Clark Brunch in Worcester. She say the signs of a fading summer are all around.

"You can tell the internationals are back. Early arrivals, freshmen you just saw, sports - they're all back," she said.

Max Shaw is an incoming freshman at Clark University. He walked to Annie's for the first time after moving in.

"It's cheap and it's good food, and if I need a dining hall break, it's right here," said Shaw.

Max is just one of at least 35,000 local college students that business owners have missed over the summer. Many students, especially those at Worcester State, start their days at the Nu café on Chandler Street.

"We always do pretty well for lunch, but they help mornings because they come in before or after class," said Joshua Van Dyke of Nu.

Many end their days at Jillian's on Grove Street. Event coordinator Jules Pearson says her bar offers live bands during the school year.

"Crazy is fun in the bar scene. When they college kids get here it gets a little crazy, so we look forward to that," said Pearson.

Eventually it becomes time for students to get down to work.

"Around finals time you get big groups huddled around doing papers everywhere, and homework on laptops," said Van Dyke.

Whether it's for work, play, or just a hot meal, it's a welcomed spike in sales.

"If I wasn't next to Clark U. And had a great walk-in clientele - they help me make a living," said Jenkins.

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