In the bustle of the academic year at Oswego State, shops downtown are hoping for a rise in business as they open their doors to college students.
Bill Reilly, owner of The River’s End Bookstore, is one of the small business owners excited about the fresh influx of students and the new energy they bring to the town every year. His connections with the Oswego State community have been beneficial and successful ever since he made the city of Oswego his home 25 years ago.
Reilly, although not originally from the area, was drawn by Oswego’s lively night life and vibrant community. When he moved to Oswego, which he now calls his “adopted hometown,” he felt the desire to give back to the community that had been so welcoming to him. Reilly said opening The River’s End Bookstore was the most gratifying thing he had ever done in business.
“It has given me an understanding and appreciation of the truly hard work of running a small business,” Reilly said.
His hard work did not go unnoticed. Oswego State’s literary citizenship class decided to reach out to their community, specifically the book loving side.
Over the course of a few years, the class began hosting a cash mob, an event where the students advertise for large masses from both communities to come together to support one local business. Every year, the class hosts their cash mob at The River’s End Bookstore, believing the bookstore is part of their broader writing community.
“The fact that the literary citizenship class had adopted the bookstore has simply been beyond our wildest dreams,” Reilly said.
The class, aiming to go above and beyond, reached out to Oswego Mayor William Barlow and other small businesses for help.
“The bookstore is a staple in downtown,” Barlow said. “I think everyone’s been there and it adds to our downtown community.”
Barlow said he thinks students need to experience downtown life in Oswego during the day, not just at night.
“We need to find a reason to get college students to come down,” Barlow said. “And I think that’s the best first step, when you start doing cash mobs for small businesses we start to see just how valuable it is to have the SUNY community here.”
The cash mob event will take place Nov. 16 at The River’s End Bookstore, located at 19 W. Bridge St. Reilly, along with the literary citizenship students led by professor Donna Steiner, encourages students and community members to participate. It is an opportunity to bring two communities together, something Reilly said he believes everyone will benefit from.
