Campus convenience store to open soon

Mini-mart located near the dorms set to open in Nov.

By Catherine Ragsdale
The Collegian

Fresno State students won’t have to look any farther than campus for all items convenient.

Food Services is working on opening a mini convenience store next to the Atrium sometime in November. Food Services is currently waiting on approval from the Health Department.

“We’re trying to listen to the students…taking the perspective of having items for them on campus,” Director of Food Services David Binkle said.

Binkle has been meeting with the Residence Hall Association for feedback about the store.

The convenience store will carry typical convenience store items: toothbrushes, deodorant, snack items, burgers, fruits and things of that nature.

Besides not having to drive to the local Wal-Mart or walk across Cedar Avenue to Wendy’s, students can also find work at the convenience store.

“The store will be student driven, and we’ll supplement it with part-time or full-time staff,” Binkle said.

The store’s placement on campus is another student-focused aspect.

“We decided to put the store in the dorm area because of the [students] safety issue,” Binkle said.

Safety and convenience are big reasons the store is opening, but business shouldn’t be reduced at other food-related locations on campus.

Binkle said he doesn’t think the convenience store will take profits from the existing restaurants.

“Primary student usage will be in the evening when a lot of the regular venues are closed. [Our goal] is so students don’t have to walk across the street to 7-11, Wendy’s or Taco Bell,” Binkle said.

Many students living in the dormitories are inconvenienced by the trips off campus for basic items and quick meals.

Freshman Tiffany Amick is looking forward to the store opening. She finds driving on Shaw Avenue to get to Wal-Mart or Target is a hassle.

Amick also has a hard time getting something to eat on campus after she gets off work.

“I get off of work at 9:30 p.m. The dining hall is closed, so I usually have to stop at Taco Bell or Wendy’s,” said Amick.

Aside from work, some students are in class when the dining hall closes.

Freshman Ronalynn Ramos has a class at 5:30 p.m. that doesn’t get out until past 8 p.m.

“I usually eat ramen noodles when that happens,” Ramos said.

Graduate student Shana Morshedian doesn’t have class or work in the evening, but is a late eater.

“All of them [restaurants on campus] are closed at 7:30 p.m. It’s not good. I usually eat late,” Morshedian said. However, the Union Snack Bar is open until 10 or 11 p.m. every evening.

Morshedian said she’d eat the burgers and fried foods Food Services plans to offer at the store.

Binkle also said Food Services is looking to provide room service for students living in the dormitories. The idea is still being decided.

Construction will continue after the store opens. All the products haven’t been ordered, and certain cooking appliances haven’t been installed yet.

A fire suppression system needs to be installed before the store could serve fried foods. Fried foods won’t be available for another two weeks to 30 days.

The store’s hours are slated to be 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week.

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