Though the fanfare surrounding last year’s grand Price Center East opening has subsided, a number of prime real-estate slots still remain vacant in the expansion.
Because several new eateries have moved into Price Center East over the last several months, the university hopes to recruit nonfood retail businesses to occupy the remainder of the expanded facility.
‘With the downturn of the economy, we don’t want to risk other businesses,’ University Centers Director Paul Terzino said. ‘We already have a lot of food vendors within Price Center, and we don’t want to saturate that.’
If all goes as planned, the empty space will be occupied by a hair salon, a bank and a test-prep store, he said.
The university is also in the final stages of negotiations with Pacific Beach-based eatery Zanzibar for a dual restaurant and coffee shop. The restaurant would occupy a 1,000 square foot space within performance venue the Loft.
‘Nothing makes events better than having food and drink,’ Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Life Gary Ratcliff said. ‘That’s a big part of the formula for the Loft. We want to make it a better venue for students.’
The University Centers Advisory Board is currently reviewing a plan to place the Zanzibar coffee shop at the top of the Triton Steps in view of the new Student Business Services Center. According to Ratcliff, however, the final location of the new coffee shop will depend on the content of its menu, as UCAB does not want a third coffee shop in Price Center detracting business from the two existing coffee shops.
‘There has to be something distinctive so we aren’t duplicating what we already have in the building,’ he said.
Administrators hope that revenue from Price Center East’s retail activity will cover the cost of operating the facility in addition to the cost of running Student Center.
Plans for a hair salon in the Price Center expansion were inspired by similar models at UCLA and other universities with student populations of 10,000 or more.
‘As we turn into a more sustainable university, we’re trying to eliminate the need to drive off campus for, say, a hair salon,’ said Lana Blank, University Centers Advisory Board student chair.
A test-prep facility ‘mdash; possibly either Kaplan or the Princeton Review ‘mdash; is expected to fill the space between the Sunshine Market and the yellow corridor to Price Center West.
According to Ratcliff, the university pursued a test-prep business due to a recent survey which illustrated that at least 40 percent of undergraduates have intentions of going on to graduate school. The price of classes at the on-campus facility is anticipated to be lower than at the test-prep store’s off-campus locations, he said.
The university also hopes to create a more welcoming atmosphere by installing softer, more lounge-like seating than currently exists in the area near Tapioca Express.
‘There are definitely more options for students now than five years ago,’ Ratcliff said. ‘We want to bring food concepts that you would go to at night with groups of your friends. It creates a nice escape for students.’
The new businesses are scheduled to move into Price Center East between Fall Quarter 2009 and Winter Quarter 2010.
Readers can contact Kelsey Wong at [email protected].