Local businesses said the sting from students heading home for the holidays won't affect the season's earnings dramatically.

"In mid-August we always say you can hear a pin drop downtown. It's probably about the same in January when the students go home," said Teresa Sparacino, director of State College's Downtown Improvement District.

Sparacino said the fact that students leave for holiday break hurts businesses in town a little, but it is an expected change.

"When you look at January nationally, it's probably a lower retail month anyway," Sparacino said.

Joe Bann, general manager of The Deli, 113 Hiester St., said the restaurant typically experiences a drop off in business during the break, but it is only a small drop.

He also said The Deli doesn't lose too many employees for the full three weeks of the break.

"Most of the employees still do want to work," Bann said.

He said that the employees are hired with the knowledge that they will often need to work over the winter break.

Gift Adventures, 137 E. Beaver Ave., which sells a variety of novelty items and Penn State memorabilia, is not typically hurt by students packing up and going home for the break, Steve Artz, the store's owner and manager, said.

"We're very strong during that week of New Year's," said Artz, whose store stays open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

Artz said during finals week, Gift Adventures receives a lot of business from parents picking their kids up for the break.

Since Gift Adventures has been in business for a number of years, Artz said, customers who come back into town around the holidays know them well.

Other stores generate business even with a large turnover of the population.

"We're such a feature of the local community that when the out-of-town people come here, they often come [to Webster's Bookstore Café]," said Elaine Meder-Wilgus, co-owner of the business located on 128 S. Allen St.

She said many of the locals and graduate students who are regulars at the store stick around for the holidays.

Meder-Wilgus said Webster's actually does more business over winter break.

She said business is helped tremendously by First Night, a community event of art and music celebration, which is held in State College on Dec. 31.

"First Night is fantastic," she said. "It's really a neat celebration in town, and we're lucky to have it."

Meder-Wilgus said as usual, she expects a lot of people to come in the bookstore looking for hot chocolate during the annual First Night celebration.

Webster's will be open until midnight on New Year's Eve, Meder-Wilgus said. She said the store will keep its regular hours during winter break because most of its workers live in State College.