Stony Brook University continues to grow and broaden facilities that prioritize students needs. The ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 1 marked the official opening of the Market at West Side, the new convenience store on the west side of campus.
The Faculty Student Association (FSA) expanded the previous West Side Dining store from 310 sq. ft. to 2,100 sq. ft. to provide more variety and an enhanced on-campus option for students. “To focus on meeting the needs of students and keeping up with the trends in higher education, the FSA embarked on an eight-month construction project that was completed on time and exceeded the expectations of the entire campus community,” said Matthew Whelan, Vice President for Strategic Initiatives and President of the Faculty Student Association.
The new Market now offers an açai and yogurt bar every morning, a mediterranean salad bar in the afternoons and evenings, and a selection of grab-and-go food and beverages including healthy snacks and local Long Island products as well as health and beauty aids. In addition, it offers cooking essentials such as cookware and grocery items, addressing the needs of students living in apartments and cooking buildings. The store is also home to the new Arctic Coke machine, which turns a cold bottle of Coca-Cola into a slushy in seconds.
“Taking a bus or driving is not always possible for students on campus, so having these resources accessible and available at all times is very important for the students who live on campus,” said James Vasallo, President of the Graduate Student Organization.
More than 300 students visited the market during the ceremony, and they were pleased with it. Students marveled at the design and layout of the store as it looks similar to high-end off-campus retailers while staying on trend with the higher education market.
“It’s definitely an improvement. This is the next level. The design and space that this store has compared to the previous one is constructive and proficient. I’d get my eggs from here all the time” said Leelan Green, a junior biology major. “It’s more convenient for the students that live near the west side, especially in the winter. Instead of going all the way to the store on east side, they can just come here to get ingredients they need,” added Emily Wu ’21, a linguistics major.
Recently FSA opened a Pan-Asian market in the Wang Center, further accommodating the dietary preferences of students.
The Market at West Side serves more than 3,000 customers per week. Students can submit feedback online to let Campus Dining know ideas for new items they would like to see featured.
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