Nestled in a corner of the commuter lounge, “Club De Ville,” in the Student Memorial Center, lies a new eatery option for students called “Avenue C.” The “C” stands for Canteen, the name of the vendor who runs the market. This area is the brainchild of Geoffrey Beers, CEO and general manager of Student Services Inc. (SSI) and Brian Hazlett, vice president of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, as a solution for students who are looking for food options when other dining halls on campus are closed.
This 24/7 self-service vending area is managed by Canteen Vending Services and includes a self-service coffee station, three racks of potato chips and other snacks; and four refrigerated areas that hold everything from fresh sandwiches and yogurt to juices and frozen meals that are microwaveable.
“SSI and the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management have been discussing ways to revitalize the area for about a year,” says Beers.
Grabbing your items and paying is quick and easy. There are three ways to pay. Students, faculty and staff can use a credit card at the kiosk; set up an account at the kiosk and then use their email address or fingerprint to add funds to the account; or pay through the Connect & Pay app from the Apple or Google Play Stores on their mobile device. Whichever way you choose to pay, checkout can be completed in 30 seconds or less.
Avenue C is open now, but there will be a grand opening September 4, 5 and 6 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. During that time, there will be free food and drinks, $3 to anyone who signs up for an account, training on how to use the market and Canteen staff will be on hand to answer any questions about products and food safety.