With students, family and alumni coming from around the country for Homecoming weekend, MU is not the only entity affected by Homecoming.

Local businesses along the parade route and downtown Columbia take part in Homecoming as well.

Shakespeare’s Pizza, one of the most well-known establishments in Columbia, will stay open later and open early on Saturday after the parade, Shakespeare’s manager Jon Medley said.

“Shakespeare’s is a good place for alumni to come back and reminisce on their days at MU and really carry on the tradition,” Medley said.

Junior Sara Driscoll, a former Maneater editor and an employee at Yogoluv Frozen Yogurt, said the business is one of many stores that participate in “Decorate the District,” an event in which student organizations get assigned a local business and come in and paint and decorate its windows for the homecoming weekend.

“I think small businesses get excited about big events like Homecoming,” Driscoll said. “I know Yogoluv definitely makes more (that weekend), and I’m sure other businesses do too.”

At Yogoluv, Driscoll said its owner supports Homecoming and other MU events not only because the business is in the heart of the college town but also because many of its workers are MU students.

The store will also have Homecoming promotions on its Facebook page.

Tiger Spirit will also be partaking in Homecoming activities by participating in “Decorate the District.” Tiger Spirit owner Michelle Dillard said Homecoming will probably one of its biggest weekends of the year, and it expects a lot of business from alumni and out-of-towners looking for MU memorabilia.

Many local bars will also be having drink specials.

Campus Bar & Grill manager Matt Hudson said he expects the bar to be busier than a typical Saturday night with more alumni in town wanting to sit down, watch the game and reminisce.

The bar will be participating in “Decorate the District,” along with many other local stores on Ninth Street.

“(The bar) wants to create good atmosphere where alumni and fans can come in and have a good time, watch the game and cheer on our Tigers,” Hudson said.