Many Iowa State students made a mad dash for home at the onset of winter break last month, motivating permanent Ames residents to infiltrate businesses the students dominated during the semester.

But some Ames businesses depend heavily on college students for patronage and suffer a bit in their absence.

Copyworks, 105 Welch Ave., is located in the heart of student traffic, and employees see a sales void when classes let out.

“I see a definite decrease in sales — our customer base [primarily] is students,” said Copyworks Manager Scott Sackville.

Sackville said he notices around a 50 percent decrease in sales during winter break, but business from permanent Ames residents is enough to keep sales steady.

Sackville also mentioned that break is a good time to prepare for the flood of students who arrive at the start of the new semester.

“We did just add some more copy machines to produce more course packets,” he said.

Dan Armstrong, manager of Taraccino Coffee, 539 Lincoln Way, said he also feels the impact of a “studentless” Ames because 20-25 percent of his business comes from ISU students.

Armstrong said Taraccino Coffee’s business drops about 25 percent, “but maybe more because people related with the university [faculty and staff] are gone, too.”

Aside from reorganizing employee schedules — which can be difficult if workers leave town — the coffee shop does not require much preparation for breaks, he said.

However, not all Ames businesses are greatly affected by a lack of student customers.

Carl Chumos, manager of Ruttles 50’s Grill, 531 S. Duff, said calculating the percentage of business from students is difficult because of the restaurant’s location outside Campustown.

“It’s hard to say — we have so many off-campus customers.”

Chumos said although he notices a decrease in student business, Ruttles avoids losing money by adapting to the change.

“Our student help takes breaks, so there are less labor costs,” he said.

Chumos added that Ames activities boost sales during dry spells. “We are not quite as busy, but there are still basketball games [to draw customers.]”

Some businesses claim breaks do not impact the flow of customers.

Rick Wenck, assistant manager of Godfather’s Pizza, 414 Lincoln Way, said business over Christmas “hasn’t been affected at all.”

Wenck said Godfather’s fares well even with a lack of student business.

“We are actually busier during the break,” Wenck said. “There are a lot of people who come into town for the holidays. We don’t cater to many students, mostly the rest of the town.”