Stocked by Olive's, U-Store deli case scores high with students

When they are sick of dining hall cafeteria food, when they crave sandwiches, salads or baked goods, Princeton students now have a new alternative. Rather than trekking out to a local deli, students have the option of purchasing quality deli food right in the U-Store's new U2 area.

In its U2 section, the remodeled U-Store offers a refrigerated case providing a variety of prepared deli foods from Olive's Deli and Bakery.

"The Princeton University bookstore approached us and asked us to sell some food in their refrigerated section for the convenience of the students . . . and the employees who work in the U-Store," said Olive's co-owner Adam Angelakis.

Jim Sykes, president of the U-Store said, "It was part of a whole remodeling," and that the U-Store trustees committee was "looking for new ways to improve the store."

Since the U2 area would be open later than the rest of the U-Store, the committee decided there would be a greater market for prepared foods. And thus, the idea for a case stocked with salads and sandwiches was born.

Though the committee also considered several grocery store chains and one other local business, The Red Onion, as possible partners in the venture, Sykes said that the choice of Olive's seemed obvious. He noted that choosing Olive's "wouldn't take away business from [their main store]," and that the deli was local and made good quality cuisine.

U-Store trustee committee member Eve Weston '01 recalled, "There was an overwhelming consensus that Princeton students did like Olive's food."

And it seems the committee has its finger on the pulse of Princeton's student body. As U2 patron Maureen Monagle '04 said, "It's really convenient and it's nice to be able to get something healthy right on campus."

Browsing the selection in U2 yesterday, Tim Fuzesi '04 noted, "The cookies are really good."

Sykes agreed that so far the choice seems to have been a hit with students. "I haven't heard anything negative," he said. "We've given [Olive's] carte blanche to choose the assortment," he added, noting that the U-Store did give the deli some basic guidelines as to what food to supply.

Olive's restocks the case three times per day, and the U-Store pulls in between $500 and $1,000 per day in deli sales.

The U2 convenience store and the deli case, however, are just beginning to establish themselves as U-Store institutions and may continue to undergo adjustments.

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"We will evaluate [the progress of the deli case] in a couple of months," Sykes said. He noted that plans for the future include expanding the salad selection, offering soup in the colder months and adding a soft-drink fountain to the store.

Because of its growing popularity with students, the U2 deli case has the potential to affect other local, but off-campus, sandwich businesses. However, Shalom Levin, owner of The Red Onion, said business is actually higher this year than last year.

Gus Liras from the student haunt Hoagie Haven noted that business at his shop may be "a little bit down" but is "about the same" as last year. He said, however, that he does not attribute any change in sales to the U-Store's new deli section.

Though the ultimate impact of the deli case on the Princeton sandwich market remains to be seen, student response indicates its presence will continue to be felt.

Michelle Buffum '03, a recent purchaser of Olive's goods from the U2 store, said "I always prefer the real Olive's, but this is right on campus. The prices aren't that great, but you've got to eat."