Downtown Bounces Back

By Claire Kapitan ’23 Staff Writer

As a junior at HWS, I’ve heard tales of pre-coronavirus downtown Geneva. The Beef and Brew dance floor. FLX Live dj nights. Thursdays at Riley’s.

I came to HWS mid-pandemic in the fall of 2020 and Geneva, like most cities, felt quiet and closed up. “Takeout only” and “Closed for now” signs littered locked storefronts downtown.

It took two years to recover from the Covid hangover. Now, finally, businesses are opening instead of closing.

A new bar, The Hideout, has been an HWS student favorite this semester. Dart boards, a pool table, a jukebox, and a punching machine are just some of the things that keep students coming back. Just don’t spill your drink on my friend Laura— she’s got a mean punch up in the 800s.

students. Regan mentions there is currently a national search for a VP of Admissions and Financial Aid and at the moment as an interim, she is focused on trying to shore up the operations and staffing within the division. Regan mentioned, “we are down in staffing this academic year,” putting strain on everyone. In rolling out admission decisions sooner, it has allowed admitted students to have a window to explore and interact with the school through admitted student days, faculty conversations, a series of weekly zoom sessions, and regional events. There is a particular push to encourage campus visits as the data shows that those who interact with the school in person often have a higher yield in enrolling. We are seeing many more visitors to campus which is a great sign that we are getting back to pre-Covid times.

The Herald spoke with Professor of Economics Tom Drennen to hear a faculty member’s perspective about the possible reasons for the declining enrollment. Professor Drennen suggests, “what we have seen in the past few years is that more and more students are interested in studying business,” and “prospec- nen says that, “we hope students find their passion, whether in the new major or any of our other amazing options.” Professor Drennen notes that this is just one part of a broader “strategy of identifying academic programs this generation of students wants, such as the new Data Analytics minor and Aquatic Studies.” Overall, Drennen is optimistic about our future, and mentions that “during the Covid years, students weren’t able to visit campus and it’s hard for a student to see themselves (here).” Now, HWS is fully back to business and having prospective students see what HWS has to offer.

With this decline, The Herald spoke to the VP of Finance (Lead Financial Officer), Mr. Mark Edwards, on the impact on the operating budget and the institution’s financial health. The operational budget is not much affected, and the loss in revenue from student tuition is supplemented by the institution’s endowment, donations, and government aid.

As HWS navigates these challenging times in attracting students, it often requires a conversation on how HWS can be innovative in academic offerings, social life and engagement on campus.

When I talked to Hideout owner Jesus about opening the bar he said, “Opening the hideout has been very stressful. There’s been a learning curve and it’s definitely out of my element, being a cardiac nurse and then owning a bar. They’re two entirely different worlds with a lot of different kinds of responsibilities. But it's been great meeting new people and I feel like I’m bringing something great back to the city of Geneva.”

A new restaurant, Anorah, opened last month on Castle St., serving upscale comfort food. The chicken paprikash and bao buns are to die for, though I have to admit to the tiniest bit of bias since I work there. FLX Live also just reopened with live bands, karaoke nights, and drag shows on the weekends.

Long story short: we’ve got options for what to do downtown now.

Catch Moon Flower, an HWS student band, every Thursday 7-9 pm at Lake Drum. Drag Show and Karaoke Saturdays at FLX Live. Trivia Thursdays 7 pm at Twisted Rail. Open Jam every Monday night at Hog Wallow. The list goes on. So many new reasons to get downtown. So many new reasons to be thankful you’re a resident of the Lake Trout Capital of the World.