Students, visitors pack downtown neighborhoods during Welcome Weekend


Back to school means back to business for many Mount Pleasant stores and restaurants.

On the corner of Main and East Michigan Streets, Marysville senior Ryan Swindlehurst is busy trying to feed a growing line of students parked in front of his Walking Taco stand Saturday night.

“I’ve made thousands of these things,” he said, in between throwing rice and beans into a box. “I’ve had a lot of practice.”

In the time it takes him to say that, Swindlehurst has slapped together two more tacos and helped two customers pay for their food. It’s par for the course on Welcome Weekend.

For Mount Pleasant businesses, large party weekends serve not just as a major profit, but a way for owners to get to know new faces in the community and rekindle relationships with regulars. For students, it’s a way to experience the Mount Pleasant community.

Welcome Weekend serves as an opportunity for Swindlehurst to get familiar with his customers.

“The focus for me is setting the tone that (Walking Taco) is going to be here every weekend and we’re here for you guys,” he said. “This weekend is definitely kind of chaotic, but very rewarding.”

Unlike other restaurants, Swindlehurst can’t manually prep his dishes by chopping vegetables or pre-cooking food. Instead, he spends two to three hours grocery shopping and making sure he’s stocked full on things like sour cream, utensils and takeaway containers. By midnight, he’s open for business.

Swindlehurst had to close early because he ran out of food during his first night out on Thursday. More than 15 customers were turned away, which he said is typical for the crowds of Welcome Weekend. It’s not just Walking Taco faced with lines down the block — Dog Central and Weiner Wagon quickly become the crush of humanity after-hours when most eateries have closed.

“Welcome Weekend is a great way for us to get exposure, especially for new students who have never heard of us before,” said Paul McFall, owner of Dog Central.

A 2007 alumnus, McFall said having been on both sides of Welcome Weekend has given him a greater understanding of what to expect as a business owner. Knowing when to expect large rushes of crowds and how to handle overly-intoxicated students, McFall said helps to keep business running smoothly and efficiently.

During the Thursday-through- Sunday stretch of Welcome Weekend, his business moves roughly “a thousand dogs out the door” and hundreds of pounds of fries each day.

“People who come and go through the day, they’re always in a great mood during Welcome Weekend,” McFall said. “You always have your outside guy who’s trying to start trouble ... We’re all just happy to be back at it.”

Finding food, making friends

Senior Kylie Chester and her friends, Algonac junior Allie Wirgau and Lake Orion senior Morgan Anderson, sit on their front porch with glasses of wine and mixed drinks. Eventually, the three said they’d venture out to see how long the line is downtown for food.

They admitted they frequent favorite eateries during Welcome Weekends — Dog Central, Jet’s Pizza and the steak dinner at Marty’s Bar.

Each of them has been through at least three Welcome Weekends. Chester said the key is to try and time visits to downtown eateries before big rushes. She said those typically come just after midnight.

“Nothing brings (people) together like Welcome Weekend. Everyone’s out, everyone’s friendly — it’s like picking up where you left off in the last semester for people,” Chester said. “This is going to be my last (Welcome Weekend), so this is really my last chance to be a part of the community.”

The trio didn’t make it to Dog Central in time on Friday night, miscellaneous food items having run out earlier in the night like onions and macaroni. They found a silver lining in the missed eating opportunity, however: using the walking time as a chance to introduce themselves to other students.

“I feel like Central is the friendliest campus in Michigan,” Chester said.

Michelle Sponseller, downtown development director for the City of Mount Pleasant, said the atmosphere Chester describes is one the community strives for. The downtown area feeds off the energy students bring to it, and Welcome Weekend serves as the “kickoff event” that entices students to come and explore the area.

“While there’s something to be said for the quiet of the summer, I think it’s equally as important to acknowledge the sense of energy that comes from the students coming back,” Sponseller said.

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About Jordyn Hermani

Troy senior Jordyn Hermani, Editor-in-Chief of Central Michigan Life, is a double major ...

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