No students. No graduation. ?Total devastation? in college towns during coronavirus pandemic

social distancing in a bar is impossible,” part-owner Cameron Farish said as he sat on one of those orange barstools, arms crossed and shoulders hunched.It’s a similar story throughout Clemson, South Carolina, and in small college towns across the country, where paper signs taped to bar doors, retail windows and restaurant entrances announce they’re closed until further notice.As states take steps to reopen businesses and restart the economy, merchants in college towns are only now entering their traditional slow period, even as they look ahead to a fall forecast clouded with uncertainty. In Clemson, for example, the average home price is about $100,000 more than the surrounding county.“College towns, not surprisingly, always stand out as these kinds of places that are doing far better than you would expect, because they have this secure employer there,” said Jennifer Mapes, a researcher at Kent State University who studies the economic impact of higher education on local economies. The cancellation of summer camps, graduations and orientations means Clemson business owners have to “tread water until August,” while the nearby city of Greenville can get back up and running in a few weeks, said Jason Beaty, who owns a framing shop in Clemson.Meanwhile, the city of Clemson anticipates a 75% decline in hotel revenue next month, compared with last June, meaning a hit to tax revenue intended for the city’s parks and recreation programs, local chamber of commerce officials noted.Looking even farther ahead, Mallach said all the unknowns about the virus and how it will affect university enrollment, athletics and employment could mean years before business gets back to pre-virus levels.