Bon Appétit is turning the Terrace Room into a grocery store next semester
(-- The Beacon)
By Natalie Wheeler Staff Writer wheelern12@up.edu
For students with the "munchies" but without a car, a trip to the grocery store will soon be just a walk to The Commons away.
Bon Appétit will open a small grocery store on campus next semester, according to General Manager of Bon Appétit Kirk Mustain.
The new store will be below The Commons in what is currently the Terrace Room. It will feature non-perishable items like cans of soup and popcorn, as well as some perishables like bread, milk and eggs.
"We haven't finalized it all yet," Mustain said. "We want it to be dorm food, but if people have suggestions, they can email me (at mustain@up.edu)."
The hours for the new grocery store are still not finalized. However, Mustain said he assumes the store will be open in the early evening and weekends at least, when those munchies are most likely to manifest.
Mustain hopes the store will give students quick access to grocery items not sold at The Commons or The Cove.
"We're looking to do more convenience food-type items," Mustain said. "Obviously we want it to have competitive prices."
Many students are already wary of prices at the new store. freshman Alex Michel said he will probably still go to Fred Meyer, rather than shopping on campus.
"I already know what things are going to be priced," Michel said. "If it's convenient, it's going to be overpriced."
Other students are open to trying out the store because of its easy access.
"The idea sounds cool but it depends on what they have," sophomore Amanda McLeod said. "If you can't get to Fred Meyer, it's nice."
According to Mustain, construction for the grocery store will happen over winter break, and the transformed Terrace Room should be ready for business by the beginning of next semester.
"(The store) is something we've been talking about for a long time now," Mustain said. "It should offer students a bit more options."
