With area colleges like James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University starting classes in the next week, many area businesses are happy.

Restaurants and shops in Harrisonburg are expecting a big boost in business.

The businesses say they're ready for the increased cash flow now that the students are back, but they say they're not the only ones that benefit.
The students get something out of it too.

Dave's Taverna Manager Scott Schimitt is glad college students are back in town.

He says, "We have students from Bridgewater; we have students from EMU; we have students from JMU.

Students like Rebecca Barge and her friends are spending their time and money at places like Dave's Taverna.

She says, "Resturaunts are a big one so we come out to eat a lot, drinks or dinner."

As the school year continues, Schimitt's expecting big crowds most nights, giving a big boost to his business.

He says, "When students come back, there's definitely a pickup in business. We fill up our whole restaurant; our capacity is about 400 to 500 people, and we fill up and go on a wait."

But he says its not just the restaurant that's benefiting. Some students also get a paycheck from local businesses.

Schimitt says, "I would say about 85 percent of our staff is students here at JMU and they'll stay with the summer with us and if they go home for the summer we come back and employ them again."

The cycle continues, and students are back in Harrisonburg stores, sometimes spending the money were they earned it.

Schimitt says, "This reflects not only for them, the parents' income and their income, but it helps out the business around town where they can go out other places and buy stuff at other places around town also."

And every year there are more students. JMU has 3,900 freshman starting their classes this week. That's a new record for the class size.