Although most students vacate campus and spread to hometowns across the nation during the three-week winter break, Ames businesses survive because of special events and the holiday season.

Because Ames’ population is almost half ISU students, a decrease in activity during university-related breaks is expected. However, sporting events can help businesses stay afloat.

“We still have basketball games,” said Kelly Segin, a key holder at T. Galaxy, 206 Welch Ave. She said the traffic from the game helps balance the lack of students.

Target, 320 S. Duff Avenue, a store that caters to all age groups, does not find a decrease in profit due to the break. The holiday season causes a business boom.

“It’s retail. We don’t fall off during these weeks as far as business is concerned,” said Bryan Gilbreaith, an executive at the Ames Target. “I don’t think we see any kind of change.”

Some businesses, which rely on college students, do see a fall in profits during the three weeks students have free from class.

“We don’t sell as much stuff when 50 percent of Ames’ population is gone,” said Bryan Engelmann, manager of American Eagle, 2801 Grand Ave. “We are a store that especially caters to college students.”

Stomping Grounds, 303 Welch Ave., sees a profit decrease over winter breaks, especially around Christmas and New Years Day.

“We definitely slow down a lot,” said Stomping Grounds owner Jonathan Reed. “We are about 25 percent slower when students are gone.”

Although there are profit decreases in stores like American Eagle, it is required by the mall that they extend their hours.

“We are open both earlier and later,” Engelmann said. “Normally, Sundays are open from noon to 5 [p.m.], but now we are open from 11 [a.m.] to 6 [p.m.].”

Target and other retail stores also extend holiday season hours.

Profit decreases are not the only problem Ames’ businesses can face during winter break. A large portion of many businesses are staffed by college students.

Reed said about 90 percent of Stomping Grounds’ staff is students affected by the break.

“I just ask that my students work with me,” Reed said. “Some will take the beginning of break off, some will take time off at the end.”

Segin said T. Galaxy also sees some staffing issues. All but one employee are students at Iowa State.

“Sometimes it causes a problem,” Segin said. “We have a lot of people going home for winter break, we kind of get short-staffed during break and finals week.”

American Eagle, whose staff is 75 percent ISU students, must hire more employees during Winter Break and the holiday season.

“I have to hire additional staff members over Winter Break because people don’t usually stay in town,” Engelmann said. “There are some students that want to stay in town and make money, so I’ll hire them for about a month.”

Target makes the effort to work with students who live in residence halls, sororities or other university housing that closes during break.

“We try and stay flexible to those people who have no place to live,” Gilbreaith said. “We try and make it work for them and work for us as well. We value that they have other things going on.”

Gilbreaith said most of his employees make an effort to be in town a couple of days a week to work during Winter Break.