Issue date: 11/3/05 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Jennifer Hietpas The Corner Store, located near the bookstore in Davies Center, offers a variety of products from hot dogs to Advil.

Cereal, soup, Kleenex, bratwurst and granola bars. These were some of the items that couldn't be bought all in one location on Lower Campus. Now, a year after the Corner Store first opened, business is doing well, Dining Services officials said.

Gary Prellwitz, general manager of University Dining Services, said the concept of a convenience-type store in Davies Center first surfaced a few years ago when the university decided to remodel the building.

Because of space created after the remodeling, Dining Services thought it would try having a convenience store, he said.

"We wanted to expand our capabilities of providing a full range of products," Prellwitz said. "We believe it to be a positive thing because of increases in customer counts and sales (over the past year)."

The store is open five days a week and averages about 280 customers a day, up from last year's daily average of 200 customers, according to Dining Services records.

Before the creation of the Corner Store, there wasn't a place on Lower Campus where students, faculty and staff could purchase Kleenex, cereal or other prepackaged commercial items, Prellwitz said.

"(The Corner Store) made us capable of having items we couldn't provide before," he said.

The Corner Store, owned and operated by Sodexho, is located near the south entrance of Davies Center in the space that was once home to the Blugold Card Office.

Sophomore Alyssa Reindl says she shops at the Corner Store about twice a month, usually for food she can save and eat later.

"I get something small I can make myself in my room," she said.

Jami Kewin has worked the day shift at the Corner Store since it opened at the beginning of the fall 2004 semester.

"This year, (business) has almost doubled from last year," she said of the number of people she sees during the day.

Kewin attributes the success to the variety of items the convenience-type store has to offer.

"I think the kids have more options (now)," she said.

Prellwitz said Lower Campus now provides a venue with a complete range of dining services from simple to extravagant.

"Now we are able to provide items that range anywhere from candy bars at the Corner Store to fine dining at Dulany Inn."

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