Baskin-Robbins owner Alan Groskopf looks out the window Monday evening at his store, located at 1137 E. Grand River Ave.
More than a year after university officials mandated longer hours for residence hall cafeterias on campus, local business owners said they’re still feeling the effects of decreased late-night sales.
Beginning in fall 2007, at least one cafeteria in every residence hall complex expanded its hours from 8 p.m. to midnight and began to serve Sunday dinners as the result of high student demand for those options.
Night-time and Sunday business at Baskin-Robbins has slowed in the past year, which is likely tied to increased cafeteria traffic, owner Alan Groskopf said.
“Oddly enough — for the first time in 20 years — we’re doing better business at day than during the night, which is a reverse of trends,” Groskopf said.
“Sunday, for many, many years was our busiest day, and now it’s the slowest day of the week. I think the dorms might have contributed.”
Although the expanded cafeteria hours hurt his business, Groskopf said he would’ve done the same thing if he was in the university’s position.
“In a free enterprise system, all the companies compete for the dollar, so I don’t think it’s unfair,” Groskopf said.
University officials implemented extended hours in the cafeterias after surveys put forth by MSU Dining Services yielded significant student input on the subject of later hours, said Bruce Haskell, associate director for University Housing.
About 23.4 percent of students with meal plans use the cafeteria’s late-night hours on a given night, and Wilson Hall is the busiest late-night location, Haskell said.
Information regarding this year’s customer service survey, which allows students to assess cafeteria services in two categories — level of satisfaction and importance — was e-mailed to students living in the residence halls and will be available until Nov. 26.
Cottage Inn Pizza, 615 E. Grand River Ave., has seen about a 50 percent decrease in Sunday’s sales since the cafeterias stayed open later, turning it from the busiest day to the slowest, supervisor Paul Yager said.
“It’s just easier for students to go downstairs to the cafeteria than to go elsewhere,” Yager said.
Deliverymen at BTB Burrito said a 10 p.m. rush was almost guaranteed in the past, but in the last year it’s become hit or miss.
“It used to be nonstop deliveries, but Sundays especially have been affected,” said Adam Griffin, a deliveryman for BTB.
“There’s not as much demand.”
Wings Over East Lansing has had steady business except for Sundays, which went from hectic to average, manager Tiernan O’Rourke said.
Advertising and studio arts sophomore Kelsey Keough gets coffee at night from the cafeterias and said it provides an easier alternative to going to a coffee shop.
“It’s just nicer because it’s easier and it’s kind of free,” Keough said.
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