Campus businesses are preparing for an increased amount of business from Eastern families.

Some businesses are preparing by having extra employees on the schedule, while others are setting up sales to lure in the customers.

Judi Konrad, assistant manager of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union Bookstore, said the bookstore sees extra business during Family Weekend.

She said they try to help by offering storewide sales and increasing operating hours.

During Family Weekend the Bookstore will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Tim Taflinger, manager of the Union Bowling Alley, said they also see a large increase in business during Family Weekend.

“Usually Family Weekend is the busiest weekend of the year because bowling is something the whole family can do,” Taflinger said.

To help create more family fun Taflinger said the bowling alley will be running specials on Friday from 8 p.m. until midnight: cosmic bowling will be $2 per game with free shoe rental.

Also on Friday there will be a sundae bar and an assortment of other snacks in the bowling alley.

Local restaurants are also preparing for more business.

Whitney Thomas, Monical’s Pizza Restaurant manager, said the restaurant sees a large increase in sales during Family Weekend. She said she has to handle the increased business and she makes sure to have extra employees working.

“We overstaff a lot, especially on Saturday evening, when we get a lot of parents taking their children out to dinner,” Thomas said.

Another business to see an increase in costumers is the Panther Paw Bar and Grill.

Nick Sedaris, manager of the Panther Paw and Grill, said the business experiences a slight increase in business during Family Weekend from families coming into the grill.

“It’s not our busiest weekend, but we do have to prepare for it,” Sedaris said.

Kaylia Eskew can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].