With Homecoming right around the corner, students and alumni are not the only ones looking towards the weekend with anticipation; businesses are also getting geared up.

The University Bookstore, located in the Holmes Student Center, will be extending their hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will be offering a 20 percent discount on NIU clothing.

Mitch Kielb, director of the bookstore, said he hopes for a large turnout but said it usually varies each year depending on weather conditions and the Huskie game’s outcome.

Village Commons Bookstore, 901 Lucinda Ave, will also be extending its hours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Richard Boardman, general manager of VCB, said there will be free popcorn and ballons on Saturday and a special sale on selected items.

“Parent’s day is the biggest time of the year around here, but Homecoming is the second biggest. It is a very important day,” Boardman said.

Liquor stores will also be having specials. The Jungle, 1027 W. Lincoln Hwy, will be opening at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday, General Manager Lito Nepomiachi said. He said they will also be running specials on beer and wine coolers.

American Liqours Inc., 159 W. Lincoln Hwy, will also be opening at 9 a.m. and having specials on drinks.

Bill Muir, manager, said there is a steady flow of customers all through the day and the better the weather, the better the turnout.

Oscar Hanson, owner of Glidden Campus Flowers and Gifts, 917 W. Lincoln Hwy, will be selling football mum corsages for $7.50. Hanson said it is a tradition for men to buy their girlfriends these corsages before the football game. He said this tradition is not as popular as it used to be, but he hopes it will start to catch on again.

People who need a place to stay this weekend and have not yet booked a room in a hotel are going to run into problems since there are virtually no rooms left in DeKalb.

Edwin Gray, manager of Motel 6, 1116 W. Lincoln Hwy, said they have been booked up for several months.

“Many upper-classmen make reservations about one year in advance since they know how fast the rooms go. After Homecoming ends this year, we will start very soon to make reservations for next year’s Homecoming,”Gray said.