Less people are eating out these days, trying to save money.

Mary Wilson, owner of Hillside Restaurant, 121 N. Second St., said her business was doing fine until November.

“We managed to have a stellar year up until the presidential election,” Wilson said. “After the election in November, we noticed a dramatic decrease of people coming to our restaurant.”

Wilson said she thinks most people became fearful from the current situation of the economy and reacted to it by eating out less.

“People seem to be very concerned about the economy and, as a result, are being very selective, causing a shift in their dining experience,” she said.

Junior communications major Ricky Crider is one person whose dining habits have changed due to the economy.

“I’ve definitely been going out to eat less because a lot of places cost too much for me,” he said.

And as result, Crider has found himself spending more time shopping.

“I usually cook something for myself and end up buying more food at grocery stores,” Crider said.

Jeremy Brown, student-at-large history education major, said having less money has been the reason for him eating out less.

“I don’t have as much money to go out to eat now,” Brown said. “I used to eat out a couple times a week but now it’s about once every couple of weeks.”

Wilson said she noticed most of her customers are coming on the weekends.

Crider said weekends are the only time he eats out.

“When I’m out on the weekends, I’ll eat out because it’s more convenient for me,” he said.

Wilson said despite less people coming into the restaurant, “we are still doing OK, and I think that’s because a lot of people still want a good meal.”

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