Sylvia Sullivan walked back and forth through a swinging door Sunday morning, bringing out hot French press pitchers filled with fresh coffee and antique floral plates piled with homemade Welsh wedge cakes. The mothers and families sitting at the table chatted about events at their children’s Greek houses and wondered when they would see each other next — for several of them it would be their sons’ graduation next month. 

“It’s an experience versus a place to stay,” said Howard Nussbaum, a father visiting with his family for their first Moms Weekend. 

Sylvia’s Irish Inn, 312 W Green St., a bed and breakfast situated in the historic Lindley House, has gained a reputation over the last ten years as a homey place for moms and families to stay during the University event, Moms Weekend.

Sylvia Sullivan, co-owner of the Inn with her husband, Ernie, began booking rooms for Moms Weekend on January 1 and were reserved by the end of the month. 

The inn wasn’t the only local lodging that saw increased business. Although the Urbana Landmark Hotel has only been open to customers for less than a year, Xiao Jin Yuan, owner of the hotel, said it also saw an increase in business because of the event. 

On an average weekend, Yuan said he sees around 15 to 20 percent of the rooms filled. However, this weekend saw around 80 percent of the rooms rented by moms celebrating with their children. Several vendors from the Boneyard Arts Festival rented the remaining rooms.

“They like the decoration and old style,” he said. “The customers feel this is a unique place. Most of the people when they travel usually stay in chain hotels, but they seldom have a chance to stay in this kind of old style hotel.”

Cynthia Johnson, director of the Urbana Business Association, said downtown Urbana sees increased foot traffic as a result of Moms Weekend and the Boneyard Arts Festival taking place in the same weekend. 

“It’s purposely geared to the same weekend to target the moms,” she said.

With the Urbana Landmark Hotel connected to Lincoln Square, Yuan said he believes businesses in the mall and around town also benefit from the visiting mothers looking for breakfast and things to do. 

Without the University, Ernie Sullivan said he doesn’t know where business at Sylvia’s Irish Inn would come from.

“It’s all about location,” Ernie Sullivan said. “Without the University, what would this be, farmland? And who would travel out here to see farmland?”

Sylvia Sullivan said sometimes the place is quiet for a few weeks, and she wonders why she bothers cleaning the antique European furniture. But as soon as Moms Weekend or football season come around, she looks forward to seeing her customers that come year after year.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “It’s great to see the same faces over and over again, and then finally at their (child’s) graduation.”

Karen Johnson and Rogelia Trevino are two of those customers. They met three years ago during their first Moms Weekend visit when they realized their sons were fraternity brothers. They have been coming back to the inn every year since.

Now, with graduation less than a month away, Johnson hugged her friend Trevino goodbye and confirmed plans to see her at the inn at least one more time for their sons’ graduation.

Corinne can be reached at [email protected].