Jake Lazarus 0:05
That’s the sound of hangers that every retailer wants to hear. Third generation J Michael shoes employee Colin Smith says the lack of students hurts luckily
Colin Smith 0:14
with the inventory that we have here at J Michael shoes. You know sometimes we don’t need the kids here, although it definitely impacts us very much still,
Jake Lazarus 0:23
Smith says the lack of students on campus means less foot traffic in and around the store. However, he is grateful for the support from locals. You
Colin Smith 0:32
we probably have been having one of the slowest summers and probably three decades or so now. Luckily, we have a really good support system from all the locals around here with
Jake Lazarus 0:42
the chopping open since 1983. Smith says it’ll take more than one slow summer to force them out. And with me
Colin Smith 0:48
being third generation working here. We would not go down without a fight and I don’t see us leaving soon.
Jake Lazarus 0:53
The fall semester at Syracuse University starts Monday, August 26. Jake Lazarus, NCC news
SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Syracusans enjoy Syracuse’s Marshall Street small businesses during the summer, but without students, businesses struggle to get traffic.
“We probably have been having one of the slowest summers in probably three decades or so now,” said Colin Smith, an employee at J. Michaels Shoes. Smith is a third-generation J. Michaels employee, with his father and grandfather running the store for over forty years.
J. Michaels has been a Marshall Street staple since opening its doors in 1983. Smith credits the store’s success during the summer months with “a really good support system with locals.”
“Being closed for the week of July 4, we did spark up a lot of talks as far as if we’re not going to be returning, but again,” Smith said. “With me being third generation working here, we would not go down without a fight, and I don’t see us leaving soon.”
