FAYETTEVILLE -- Businesses have blossomed at the University of Arkansas with campus commerce no longer limited to cafeterias and the bookstore.
Students and faculty have access to coffee shops, chain restaurants, dry cleaners and beauty salons.
"Economic growth on campus is not a goal in and of itself," said David Davies, assistant vice provost for student affairs. "It's a byproduct of the university providing the kinds of services that increased enrollment requires."
Enrollment jumped by 32 percent, from 19,194 to 25,341 students, during the past five years, according to the university's Office of Institutional Research.
One of the most visible signs of on-campus business growth is the Garland Avenue Center, which features a Subway restaurant, TCBY yogurt shop, eye clinic and dentist's office in a strip of retail stores attached to a 1,500-space parking garage.
A Walmart Express was the first store of its kind for Walmart when it opened in January 2011 on the north end of the Garland Center. The 3,500-square-foot space has a pharmacy and dry grocery section and caters mostly to students living in residence halls across the street.
The small box store has been replicated at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., according to company news releases.
"We are pleased to have three small-format Walmart On-Campus stores currently, and we are continuing to test the concept," Erica Jones, senior manager for Walmart Public Affairs, said.
Other on-campus chain stores include Quiznos, Papa John's, Starbucks, Slim Chickens and Einstein Bros. Bagels.
"That's what students are demanding," Davies said. "If they want franchise foods, we'll give it to them."
Chartwells, the company that serves food at University of Arkansas dining halls, is the franchisee for the restaurants. Chartwells pays royalties for using the brand names, and the university gets a roughly 12 percent cut of all sales, Davies explained. He said the money is used to expand food service facilities, like Brough Commons, which opened after renovations last fall.
Joseph Fantinel, a junior computer engineering major, stopped in the Einstein Bros. Bagels in Willard J. Walker Hall earlier this semester for a midafternoon caffeine kick.
Fantinel said most of his classes are on the south side of campus. If it weren't for Einstein Bros., he might have to walk to the Arkansas Union or plug money into a vending machine for a quick snack.
"I'm glad this business is here," he said. "It's convenient for me."
NW News on 03/23/2014