5 ways you can tell the students have returned to Hamilton

This article was originally published in CBC Hamilton, Sept. 4, 2012

Have you noticed there are more people around town? Many are students coming to Hamilton for school.

New or returning, here are five sure signs that they are back.

Cereal and pasta are selling like hot cakes

That is how Lucy Caluori, store manager at Fortinos on Main Street West, knows the students are back.

"There is an increase in the stuff that students use to fill their pantries," said Caluori, referring to things like snack bars, pasta noodles, sauces, and cereal. "The traffic picks up close to the fall. It's a big push at this time of the year."

The crowded streets of Westdale

Looking out the window of the coffee shop My Dog Joe, server Dylan Euteneier is beginning to see more students.

"The place really livens up a lot. You can feel the energy again during the school year," said Euteneier.

A stone's throw from McMaster, My Dog Joe is popular with students.

"It is a little more relaxed in the summer. In the school year, we have people in all through the night."

Packed buses, luggage and questions

They say enthusiasm is contagious and HSR bus driver, Brian Nicholson is beginning to see more of that as he drives the 1A King bus route.

"The buses are packed and you can see the students are happy to be back to school. There is more enthusiasm [on the bus]," said Nicholson.

While Nicholson has seen an influx of students on his bus, GO Transit drivers have more luggage to store.

But both HSR and GO drivers agree on one thing: they get a lot of questions from students who are unfamiliar with the routes and with riding the bus.

You get more business

Ilyas Ali, manager of My Convenience Store opposite Gore Park, knows when fall has arrived.

"Students will come in," said Ali. Lots of them.

"It's good for my store," said Ali, as he gestured at the bus stop where Columbia College students wait to catch the bus for school.

Busy weekends

Unlike Ali, Bonnie Rauda does not need wait till school begins to see more students.

She had her hands full on a Sunday, responding to queries from international students while she manned the cell phone service, chatr, at Jackson Square.