Convenience store set to open Sept. 4

On Sept. 4, Xavier's convenience store will open in the area
previously occupied by FLiX in the Gallagher Student Center. The store will be open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Friday
and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. According to Michael Hubbard, Director of the Xavier Bookstore and the convenience store, the store "will offer a small selection of grocery items such as milk, bread and eggs as well as a selection of health and beauty products," in addition to "a broad
selection of snack items and premade sandwiches and salads from Xavier Dining Services." The currently unnamed
store will be named by students, Hubbard and Director of
Auxiliary Services Tom Barlow stated in a recent email.
"Beth Amyot, senior vice president for Financial Administration (as well as Dave Johnson, associate provost for student Affairs) has asked that the students name the store to also make sure they know it is about the students (and) for the students," Barlow said. Follett, which currently runs the Xavier Bookstore, will help with the operation of the store. "Of the multiple times we bid out the convenience store to over a hundred merchants," Barlow said, "Follett was the only company
that was willing to invest in our students services...with
enthusiasm." "Follett will have the responsibility to help educate students in the business of running a small retail business," Barlow said, including components "such as merchandizing, inventory, marketing and advertising." Barlow calls this store a "Student Learning Laboratory" because of this educational component. Other oncampus "Laboratories" include
Coffee Emporium, Bull Market Café and X-Spot. Hubbard added that the store will also "provide in-depth job opportunities for students looking to expand their business knowledge.
From day one, the XU convenience store will be driven by 4
to 5 student managers with an additional staff made up of current XU students." At one time, Follett operated the previous convenience store called "The Snackateer," but it was consolidated into what is today the Bookstore. Hubbard said
that Follett is eager to expand its services to Xavier students once again. "Xavier University and Follett have a long standing partnership with the Xavier University Bookstore," he said, "and both were very excited about the opportunity to expand this partnership and to increase the services offered to the XU community." He also said that Follett operates similar convenience stores on the University of Cincinnati campus,
as well as nation-wide. Barlow stated that this is an important service to provide to Xavier students because "students
working, learning and supporting students' campus needs is always a great formula for Xavier's campus." "We hope the XU convenience store will be a convenient on campus stop for all of the XU student's needs," Hubbard said, "and (it) will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the XU community."