Congratulations Hoosiers, during Little 500 weekend, you assisted Bloomington’s economy big time. The annual bike race modeled after the Indy 500 raises money that goes toward scholarship fund for IU students. Combine that with finals week and summer quickly approaching, and that synergistic effect naturally makes the weekend Bloomington’s biggest party time and economy booster of the year!

Denny’s general manager Richard Frank said his establishment’s sales increase by 30 percent during this eventful weekend in which students seek a meal after their late night partying. One year, a party relocated to his restaurant’s parking lot, and got so out of hand that his security detail couldn’t handle the massive amount of students and he had to call the Bloomington Police.

Local Circle K owner, Jason Gram said his sales triple every Little 500 weekend. In order to prepare for the surge of business, he overstocks and gives way more hours to his employees during this extremely busy time where students will constantly be at his convenience store from Thursday evening up until Sunday morning.

If you’re a student in Bloomington and haven’t experienced the madness of Little 500 weekend, you’re missing out! But as long as you’re not a senior, there’s always next year!