Downtown Tempe merchants hoping for economic boost from ASU students

TEMPE, AZ - Merchants in Downtown Tempe are hoping for an extra boost from new and returning ASU students. It is "Welcome Back" week and many are offering coupons and special deals to entice students to spend some money.

The Mill Avenue District Downtown Tempe Community, a non-profit that works with the city to help boost business, says some merchants will pass out coupons on campus this week.

Every year, merchants put out 'Welcome ASU' signs. Yucatecan Imports, an exotic collectibles store on Mill Avenue, is offering 10 percent off to ASU students. 

Paige Maglio, the owner, says she is hoping that ASU students will bring in a boost in income but it's more important that her business sees consistent revenue all year round. 

The Downtown Tempe Community is striving for the same goal. Nancy Hormann, President and Executive Director of Downtown Tempe Community, says it appears downtown is seeing consistent business throughout the year.

However, businesses didn't see as big of a boost this same time last year as they did in the spring. According to the City of Tempe, August brought in $231,000 in downtown sales tax revenue. September brought in $235,000.  October brought in $202,000. These were the slowest months of 2011.

The highest sales tax revenue was seen in April 2011. According to Tempe, $399,000 was collected. 

With thousands of students heading to school this week, Maglio says now is the time to entice students with what they have to offer and hopefully get them to come back. They can see the world through our store, she said.