Bryan Cole / The Collegian
Low sales, Starbucks force pub to cut hours
If you̢۪re anything like the typical college student, you know that in the mornings coffee is sometimes the only way to stay conscious in that 8 a.m. class. And, if The Bucket Grill and Pub was where you got that coffee, you also know they aren̢۪t open at 8 a.m. anymore.
The Bucket has, for the second time in four months, changed its hours and now doesn̢۪t open until 11 a.m.
In October 2008, The Bucket decided to change its closing hours to 3 p.m., leaving few options for dinner on campus but still leaving breakfast and coffee menus available.
Debbie Adishian-Astone, associate vice president for auxiliary operations, said that because so few people were purchasing food in the evenings, it didn̢۪t make sense to keep The Bucket open.
“We didn’t get enough sales during the evenings to cover our labor costs,â€Â Adishian-Astone said. “We sometimes have to really look at our hours… and make sure that we’re being efficient with our resources.â€Â
Adishian-Astone associated part of the low customer flow to the renovation of the library.
“We had a number of students, because the library was closed, who just came in and used The Bucket to sit and study, and didn’t order food,â€Â Adishian-Astone said.
“We just couldn’t justify keeping it open if we weren’t getting the sales,â€Â she said.
This semester, with the addition of the new Starbucks in the library, Adishian-Astone said that it seemed most logical to keep The Bucket open as a lunch option only.
“The reason that the morning hours shifted as well is because we have the new Starbucks opening on campus. Starbucks will have all the coffee, pastry and breakfast items over there,â€Â Adishian-Astone said.
“We wanted to still have the morning coffee and breakfast options, but really try and drive most of the traffic to Starbucks and really leave The Bucket as more of a grill option for lunch.â€Â
The Bucket̢۪s new hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fridays. The Bucket is closed on the weekends.
Dinner options limited to food court
Although there won̢۪t be a grill menu on campus during the evening hours, Fresno State still has a few dinner options downstairs in the University Student Union.
Panda Express, Chik-fil-A and Subway will all be open until 7 p.m. on the weekdays, except for Friday, when the food court will close at 5 p.m.
“The Bucket’s hours are the only ones that we adjusted,â€Â Adishian-Astone said. “All of our other operations hours stayed consistent.â€Â
While these options seem fairly reasonable, some students say they will miss the healthier options that The Bucket provided.
Michelle McWilliams, a senior interior design student, who also works at Services for Students with Disabilities, said that when she first heard about The Bucket closing for dinner she wasn̢۪t too happy.
“I used to go there a lot when they were open later,â€Â McWilliams said.
“Since I work close by, I would go there in the evenings for dinner, but now I just end up bringing something from home.â€Â
McWilliams said that while she is excited for the new Starbucks, she used The Bucket as more of a dinner option and said that she liked the healthy variety she could get there.
“I’ll still go to the other restaurants on campus, but The Bucket was just convenient and it was always nice not to have to get fast food.â€Â
University Center food options not gone yet
Although Fresno State still has The Vintage Room, which is a sit-down restaurant that serves Italian food, and another fast food option with Taco Bell, rumors of the University Center̢۪s (UC) demolition may cut-out those dinner options as well.
Adishian-Astone said that even though plans are in the works for the demolition of the UC building, because of the budget crisis, those plans won̢۪t happen for at least another year.
“Due to the situation with the library funding, and project funding in general, it looks like the UC building and the food options there will last at least another year,â€Â Adishian-Astone said.
While more and more changes are planned for Fresno State, she said she is certain that with these changes, students and their opinions are always the main priority.
“I did get some negative feedback on the new Bucket hours from students,â€Â Astone said.
“Once I explained the number figures and reminded them about the new Starbucks, they understood,â€Â she said.
Adishian-Astone said that while she is aware that students are missing the morning coffee and breakfast option on campus, she is confident that in just a few weeks students will be really impressed with what the new Starbucks will offer when, on Feb. 20, it opens for students along with the Henry Madden Library.
“Right now the library’s Starbucks is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for library staff only, but starting on the 20th we will have regular hours that will also go into the evenings,â€Â Adishian-Astone said.
“We’re getting lots of practice and are going to be ready for all the students.â€Â
The Bucket̢۪s Hours of Operation
• 11 a.m. — 3 p.m.
Monday through Thursday
• 11 a.m. — 2 p.m.
Friday
̢ۢ Closed on Saturday and Sunday
jsv • Feb 10, 2009 at 8:42 am
The univerisity sells out for money. It all comes down to money. Starbucks will bring in the bucks even though there is already a starbucks across he street on shaw. Which is rather ridiculous.
jsv • Feb 10, 2009 at 3:42 pm
The univerisity sells out for money. It all comes down to money. Starbucks will bring in the bucks even though there is already a starbucks across he street on shaw. Which is rather ridiculous.
Michael J. Faux • Feb 10, 2009 at 12:22 am
Looks like the the final step before a permanent shutdown. Three hour days. Just call it quits and end it. Should have had more live music and drink specials I would say.
Michael J. Faux • Feb 10, 2009 at 7:22 am
Looks like the the final step before a permanent shutdown. Three hour days. Just call it quits and end it. Should have had more live music and drink specials I would say.
bucket fan • Feb 6, 2009 at 9:55 am
I think this womans comments are full of it. True i studied in the bucket for 2 full years but i also ordered food and ate there. I think its a lie to justify why they are “seeling out” people who studied in there i saw were more likely also the customers and i always saw long long long lines for food. Even in the evenings. Its the whole budget cuts and stuff that they changed the hours not because there was lack of cusotmers. It a marketing tactic to make sure people purposely go to starbucks and get into the library. I am boycotting the starbucks and the library. i will never set foot in there .
bucket fan • Feb 6, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I think this womans comments are full of it. True i studied in the bucket for 2 full years but i also ordered food and ate there. I think its a lie to justify why they are “seeling out” people who studied in there i saw were more likely also the customers and i always saw long long long lines for food. Even in the evenings. Its the whole budget cuts and stuff that they changed the hours not because there was lack of cusotmers. It a marketing tactic to make sure people purposely go to starbucks and get into the library. I am boycotting the starbucks and the library. i will never set foot in there .
sad story! • Feb 6, 2009 at 12:22 am
back in fall of 2001 and 2002 this place opened at like 7 and stayed open all night—-what sellouts our administrators are—-ditching a nice hangout like the Bucket for anther damn Starbucks…….
sad story! • Feb 6, 2009 at 7:22 am
back in fall of 2001 and 2002 this place opened at like 7 and stayed open all night—-what sellouts our administrators are—-ditching a nice hangout like the Bucket for anther damn Starbucks…….