UCF is considering making the SU generic like the other State schools......
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-ucf-restaurants-union-20151110-story.html
Restaurant owners worry about UCF Student Union plans
Sean Moore and Josh Kaufman, both UCF educators, meet this week at Wackadoo’s Grub and Brew in the Student Union. They often meet there to collaborate. (Orlando Sentinel / Gabrielle Russon)
On a recent morning, Jim Phelps returned to his alma mater to grab an early lunch at Wackadoo's Grub and Brew.
Phelps, a 2001 graduate from Orlando, ordered a special pulled pork sandwich that's no longer on the menu, but the cook makes it anyway.
"It's an institution," Phelps said about the UCF Student Union restaurant decorated with black-and-gold football jerseys on the wall and vintage pictures from campus on the tables. "It's like 'Cheers.'"
But the future of Wackadoo's and several other locally owned restaurants in the heart of the UCF campus is uncertain.
The UCF trustees are expected to vote Nov. 19 whether the Student Union's food vendors should be consolidated and run by Aramark, a Philadelphia company that already operates the university's meal-plan cafeterias. Officials say the proposal is a lucrative deal for the university and offers an opportunity to nearly double the sitting space in the Union.
Several restaurant owners said their places would be phased out as their leases expire within the next few years, they would not be renewed. Then, Aramark would decide which restaurant vendors should replace them, a move that could wipe out local entrepreneurs and could turn the Student Union into a generic food court, they said.
"We're jobless. We're out," said Alkarim Dhanani, who co-owns five businesses at UCF. "We will do whatever it takes to stay."
UCF spokesman Chad Binette said if the plan moves forward, Aramark and the university will talk with students about what dining options they want.
"It is premature to comment on how their feedback might impact the current vendors," Binette wrote in an email.
Several owners said they plan to attend the upcoming trustees' meeting to protest and ask for an opportunity to bid on the project.
"What bothers us the most is monopolies aren't good for Student Unions," said Dean Monaco, a 1993 UCF graduate who owns Wackadoo's with his former roommate and fraternity brother, Scott Kaylor.
But Binette said most schools use single food-service operators instead of several independent vendors. That makes UCF, one of the largest schools in the country, the exception. Aramark runs the Student Unions at several other schools, including the universities of Florida, Florida State and South Florida.
At UF, the Student Union primarily has franchises and chain restaurants with the exception of a café, said school spokesman Steve Orlando.
UCF leaders, including the student body president Caitlyn Zona, who serves on the trustees board – said the proposed deal offers plenty of incentives for the school.
Working with Aramark will give the university $14 million to expand the crowded 400-seat Union by building a new addition and renovating the existing space to add 750 more seats. Binette added the trend of hiring student workers – just like many of the current union restaurants do – would likely continue with Aramark in control of the Union.
"It makes all the sense in the world," said UCF's chief financial officer William Merck during a trustees committee in October.
Several restaurant owners said they felt blindsided after learning about the proposed changes in the media.
"You're on campus 20 years and you don't get the respect of a phone call before a big deal happens," said Bryan Horgan, a 2007 UCF graduate who runs the Subway. "It just doesn't feel right."
However, Binette said the restaurant owners were not told sooner because the university needed to wait to see how trustees felt about the Aramark contract at the committee meeting.
"This is only a proposal, and there is still time for feedback," Binette wrote.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-ucf-restaurants-union-20151110-story.html
Restaurant owners worry about UCF Student Union plans
Sean Moore and Josh Kaufman, both UCF educators, meet this week at Wackadoo’s Grub and Brew in the Student Union. They often meet there to collaborate. (Orlando Sentinel / Gabrielle Russon)
On a recent morning, Jim Phelps returned to his alma mater to grab an early lunch at Wackadoo's Grub and Brew.
Phelps, a 2001 graduate from Orlando, ordered a special pulled pork sandwich that's no longer on the menu, but the cook makes it anyway.
"It's an institution," Phelps said about the UCF Student Union restaurant decorated with black-and-gold football jerseys on the wall and vintage pictures from campus on the tables. "It's like 'Cheers.'"
But the future of Wackadoo's and several other locally owned restaurants in the heart of the UCF campus is uncertain.
The UCF trustees are expected to vote Nov. 19 whether the Student Union's food vendors should be consolidated and run by Aramark, a Philadelphia company that already operates the university's meal-plan cafeterias. Officials say the proposal is a lucrative deal for the university and offers an opportunity to nearly double the sitting space in the Union.
Several restaurant owners said their places would be phased out as their leases expire within the next few years, they would not be renewed. Then, Aramark would decide which restaurant vendors should replace them, a move that could wipe out local entrepreneurs and could turn the Student Union into a generic food court, they said.
"We're jobless. We're out," said Alkarim Dhanani, who co-owns five businesses at UCF. "We will do whatever it takes to stay."
UCF spokesman Chad Binette said if the plan moves forward, Aramark and the university will talk with students about what dining options they want.
"It is premature to comment on how their feedback might impact the current vendors," Binette wrote in an email.
Several owners said they plan to attend the upcoming trustees' meeting to protest and ask for an opportunity to bid on the project.
"What bothers us the most is monopolies aren't good for Student Unions," said Dean Monaco, a 1993 UCF graduate who owns Wackadoo's with his former roommate and fraternity brother, Scott Kaylor.
But Binette said most schools use single food-service operators instead of several independent vendors. That makes UCF, one of the largest schools in the country, the exception. Aramark runs the Student Unions at several other schools, including the universities of Florida, Florida State and South Florida.
At UF, the Student Union primarily has franchises and chain restaurants with the exception of a café, said school spokesman Steve Orlando.
UCF leaders, including the student body president Caitlyn Zona, who serves on the trustees board – said the proposed deal offers plenty of incentives for the school.
Working with Aramark will give the university $14 million to expand the crowded 400-seat Union by building a new addition and renovating the existing space to add 750 more seats. Binette added the trend of hiring student workers – just like many of the current union restaurants do – would likely continue with Aramark in control of the Union.
"It makes all the sense in the world," said UCF's chief financial officer William Merck during a trustees committee in October.
Several restaurant owners said they felt blindsided after learning about the proposed changes in the media.
"You're on campus 20 years and you don't get the respect of a phone call before a big deal happens," said Bryan Horgan, a 2007 UCF graduate who runs the Subway. "It just doesn't feel right."
However, Binette said the restaurant owners were not told sooner because the university needed to wait to see how trustees felt about the Aramark contract at the committee meeting.
"This is only a proposal, and there is still time for feedback," Binette wrote.
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