Graduation is a busy time for local businesses around Grahamstown. Kenny Zachareocis of The White House and Victoria Mews Hotel told Grocott’s Mail that both hotels were booked out until Sunday at least six months in advance.
Graduation is a busy time for local businesses around Grahamstown. Kenny Zachareocis of The White House and Victoria Mews Hotel told Grocott’s Mail that both hotels were booked out until Sunday at least six months in advance.
He said they have been receiving calls from many other establishments looking for accommodation which has led him to believe that most if not all B&Bs and hotels are currently fully booked. “If only we had more rooms!” he said.
Restaurants too enjoy a rush of customers during Graduation weekend. Phillip McDougall, the manager at Mad Hatters coffee shop said they get pretty busy as they are situated close to the university.
“We usually have a rush after the ceremonies, we’re full all of a sudden and then everyone leaves as they go on to the next ceremony or function, so it’s not quite as full as during festival, but it’s close.”
Co-owner of the Rat and Parrot pub/restaurant Mynhardt Van Dyk agreed saying it is similar to the National Arts Festival rush. “It’s almost bigger than Fest because it’s all jam-packed into three days.
We get busy from about Wednesday as the parents arrive and then we’re busy from then until Sunday.” While accommodation is full and restaurants and pubs are super busy, the business that gets the most out of the grad weekend is undoubtedly Kodak Express on High Street.
They are responsible for all the photography in the auditorium during the entire ceremony and the photography for the functions, the garden party and the ball.
Furthermore they take care of all the processing and printing of all the photos that are taken. Owner Dr Nick Stavrakis said “what is unique about this store, probably in the whole country, is that we are the only enterprise that produces so many pictures within just a few hours.
Parents and students can come to us within a few hours of the ceremony and collect their memories, receiving the complete package.”
He added further that it was like Christmas for them and compensated for an otherwise quiet December period.
“This weekend gives us a very welcome shot in the arm,” he said. “We are grateful to Rhodes University for affording us the oppourtunity to cover graduation and thereby support local businesses as well.”
