No graduation season ‘a big loss’
Closed colleges, canceled rites have ‘severe impact’ on local businesses
NEW HAVEN — Local businesses that traditionally rely on Yale University’s graduation season to give them an economic lift had to recalibrate after the university canceled its public celebrations because of COVID-19.
Yale commencement festivities — which usually bring in about 15,000 friends and family members to New Haven, city officials said — were planned to start Saturday and culminate with graduates walking up to get their diplomas Monday.
“Not having commencement is a big loss,” said Carlos Eyzaguirre, New Haven’s Economic Development Officer. “It is a big week for our restaurants and other service industries.”
That sentiment was echoed by Miguel Pittman, owner of Sandra’s Next Generation, a restaurant on Congress Avenue that attracts students and families alike during commencement week. He estimated he’ll lose as much as 35 percent of his bottom line in private parties, catering and walk-in traffic because of the change.
“It was a major blow,” he said, adding that for his soul food cuisine, “families come from all over the world.”
Hotels and businesses that shuttle people from one place to another, be it airport, bar or campus, also are going to be hurt, Eyzaguirre said, although he would not estimate what the economic toll on New Haven would be.
The shutdown of collegebusiness-as-usual, he said, has had an effect. Throw in canceled graduation parties, family meals and planned university events and “there has been a severe impact on catering,” he said. “Lots of businesses throughout the city depend on that revenue.”
University President Peter Salovey announced in late March that Yale’s traditional commencement was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The university, along with all other schools in the state, closed on Gov. Ned Lamont’s order on March 12.
During this “unprecedented level of disruption and economic pain, we are very sensitive to the fact that people can lose loved ones,” Eyzaguirre said.
As a stopgap until the university can hold an inperson celebration once restrictions on mass gatherings ease, Yale has honed its virtual footprint to honor its 2020 graduates, said Yale University Media Relations Director Karen Peart.
The university has launched a dedicated Yale 2020 website to serve as a virtual portal to the alternative celebrations.
And on Monday, commencement day, Salovey will deliver remarks via the website, including congratulations to students and conferral of their degrees, Peart said.