School lunch economics

Many educators and parents cheered the announcement that a new, state-of-the-art Central High School would open in 2002.

But nearby businesses that count on those students for income aren't cheering.

With six months until the new school opens on Silver Springs in Cape Girardeau, no business owners are wringing their hands in worry, but they are wondering if the absence of the students they relied on for so many years will drastically affect business.

The owner of Pop's Pizza, Eric Lambert, thinks it will. He estimates Central High School students make up one-third of his lunch business.

"Lunch is our biggest meal," Lambert said. "This could really hurt."

Lambert realized long ago how important high school students are to his business, so he counts them daily. For example, on Tuesday, there were 22 high school students who ate at Pop's at 409 N. Clark.

Lambert plans on trying to attract new customers: He's started offering delivery and he's looking at after-school specials to draw the kids in at day's end. "But it will be hard to make up," he said.

High school students visit Wink's Keg Shop across the street at 1803 Independence in droves during the school's two lunch periods. Manager Debbie Green says at least 100 students come during lunch if weather permits.

"We get so many kids here," she said. "They stop by in the morning to purchase doughnuts and soda, and then at noon they walk over here and eat lunch. I think of them as my kids. They all even call me 'Mama.' We're surely going to miss them."

Green cooks for the students, offering cheap sandwiches, chips and sodas.

"On Friday, I can depend on getting rid of a whole case of hamburgers," she said. "They've made a big impact here."

But Green said Wink's is taking a wait-and-see approach. She said that the students often crowd around the doors, and some adults say they don't come around noon because of it.

Albertson's Food and Drug is a tad farther away at 2126 Independence. But store manager David Alcorn said students do visit. He doesn't think fewer students eating lunch at Albertson's will negatively affect the store.

"The kids were coming over here buying 30-cent bags of chips and 50-cent sodas," Alcorn said. "I mean, they've been great, but it's not like they're in here buying T-bone steaks and baked potatoes."

Managers at nearby fast food restaurants, like McDonald's on Broadway, didn't seem too worried, although they admit to a good number of student customers at lunch.

"I don't feel it's going to have any affect at all," said Lynn Petzold, director of operations for McDonald's. "The high school building will still be used as a junior high, so parents will still have to get them to and from school. We hope parents will drive them through for breakfast and after school."

The new high school campus will be closed, meaning that students will not be allowed to leave for lunch. Students at Wink's Tuesday said they won't like the change.

"This gives us a chance to get away from school for a little while," said sophomore Michelle Griffin, 16. "It's a nice break from school, and it's only 25 minutes."

Lynnette Myers, also a 16-year-old sophomore, said it's too bad that the new high school will hurt their favorite lunch-time hangout.

"Besides," she said, "the stuff we get here is way better than what we can get in the cafeteria."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137