“It’s no secret we’ll come into our slowest months out of the year in February and March,” he said. “Partly, it is a function of weather and darkness — also, kids might be saving up to go somewhere for spring break.”

Wylie said because the store sells a lot of apparel that isn’t necessarily focused on students, the store does OK during winter break, when students aren’t in East Lansing. He said SBS also sees an increase in sales during winters when Spartan basketball is thriving.

“A little bit depends on the basketball team,” he said. “A good basketball team can make the winter end a lot earlier.”

Different industries experience a similar correlation between the success for MSU at the Breslin Center and their sales during the winter months.

Michael Mansour, the owner and general manager of Spartan Spirits, a liquor store on Albert Avenue, said when the basketball team is playing well in the winter, their sales increase dramatically.

“When the students come back in January, we usually see a spike in sales,” he said. “The students are excited to come back, and if we have a good basketball team, we see that reflected in our sales.”

Mansour said Spartan Spirits’ sales are reflected directly by whether or not students are in East Lansing.

“We don’t see much of a spike in sales during the holiday season, but around mid-December, during graduation we see a spike,” he said.

Mansour said during the winter, the liquor store doesn’t see the kind of sales they do in the fall.

“The reason we see more sales in the fall is because of football and the tailgating that comes with that,” he said. “You don’t really get that with basketball.”

Mansour added that the store sees a nice spike during St. Patrick’s Day and then levels out their sales until May’s graduation celebrations.

Some restaurants continue to see some business during the holiday season and other slower times in the winter, as places like El Azteco welcome back alumni and those returning to visit family in the area.