You won’t find it on the menu, but “experiential learning” will be the key ingredient or takeaway for students who will operate the Snack Shack when it reopens in Thompson Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 10.
The Snack Shack is located in Room W103, the space formerly occupied by Tim Hortons FREDExpress. President Stephen H. Kolison Jr., School of Business Dean Kaustav Misra and members of the Provost Council will be attending the opening ceremony to be held opening day at noon.
“Ever since its inception, the Snack Shack has helped students learn all about how to start and run a business,” said School of Business Professor Linda Hall. The experience includes setting up point-of-sale and inventory management systems, staffing and monitoring operations, and preparing financial and tax reports.
As the student manager of the operation, Cole Harris, a senior Business Administration: Management major from Clarence, NY, will manage inventory, order product, handle marketing and appoint staff.
“I plan on actually going into my father’s (insurance) business after college, so this would be a great way to get experience,” Mr. Harris explained. The knowledge gained from building a business is “really crucial before I leave college and enter the workforce,” he said.
Assisting Cole in Snack Shack operations will be Rababa Tawfiq, senior, Business Administration, the Bronx, NY; Caiden Campese, junior, Business Administration: Finance, Lancaster, NY; and Madigan Robertson, junior, Business Administration: Marketing, Orchard Park, NY. All four students will receive internship credit.
“We are going to have fresh breakfast sandwiches, salads, fruit and baked goods, along with hot coffee, energy drinks and other snacks,” Dr. Hall, the Snack Shack’s adviser, noted. “We look forward to branching out (with more food items) as the business picks up.”
Unlike the former Snack Shack located on the third floor of Thompson Hall, the rechristened Snack Shack will accept only credit and debit cards, not cash or FREDCards. The Snack Shack is self-funded through a Student Association account.
The Snack Shack will be open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
