STOCKTON, Calif. — In case anyone was unsure, dozens of banners affixed to light posts along the Miracle Mile stretch of Stockton's Pacific Avenue make it clear: Miracle Mile is Tiger territory.
"We're so close to UOP, it's a half a mile from here," said Nicolle Dixon, a server at Miracle Mile business Creperie Le Pompon. "It's a very safe neighborhood, really strong community."
With more than 4,800 University of the Pacific Tigers back on campus for their first full weekend ahead of the start of the fall semester on Monday, business owners are excited.
"It's almost like New Year's for us," said Jason Laurenti, owner of Ave on the Mile. "We have a deep connection with UOP, especially when the students come back."
Those students include aspiring dentists and Chico native Chinenye Ihekwoeme.
"Just like walking Miracle Mile, you can get ice cream, you can shop, and there's lots of good restaurants here," said Ihekwoeme. "Our plans, we're just going to shop and look around."
Ihekwoeme and a friend had to stop by "Hidden Gem," which is one of many businesses offering community gems in the form of discounts and events for students.
"It's nice to see different faces and families," said the small business's owner Marissa Correa. "So, us and a lot of other shops do 10% off for UOP students and staff with their IDs."
The discount and unique items found in the Miracle Mile store are a big hit-- much like the tasty menu at Creperie Le Pompon nearby which can be hard for employees to keep up with around this time of the year.
"We have savory crepes, sweet crepes. We also have sandwiches, soups, salads," said Dixon. "We're so happy this time of the year because we know that our business is going to be booming and we get to really show them how delicious our food is and get to meet people from all over the U.S., really."
Seeing the return to school business boost is also a highlight of the year for owners of the bar and bistro, Ave on the Mile.
"I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a business not excited to have students come back," said Laurenti. "We are smack dab in the middle of Stockton and we want this to be the heartbeat of Stockton."
The heart of Stockton these days is happy to welcome students back.
"It would be exciting to have students and not only the students, but the community embrace that the Miracle Mile is here and we're here to stay," said Laurenti. "We're here only to make it better."
Watch more from ABC10: Safety improvements underway on Stockton's Miracle Mile, $20M in more work planned
