The Vikes' Cafe

By Alexandra SteigelfestThe Vikes’ Cafe (VC) is an on campus, student-based enterprise that has been in operation for 23 years. Over the years, the VC has expanded its business by keeping prices affordable, offering daily specials, developing new menu items, having athlete meals and offering cash and card options. It is open four days a week and serves all students and faculty.  Without the Vikes’ Cafe, on campus meals would be bland and boring.The VC specifically targets freshmen, as they are required to stay on campus during lunch hours. On Fridays, there is a “Freshman Friday” special that offers freshmen a slice of pizza and a slushy for $2.50. The students running the business have been working on creating deals for upperclassmen as well. The VC also offers very affordable options ranging from $1.00 to $4.00. For this reason, upperclassmen are also attracted to the Vikes’ Cafe because it saves them time and money. Going off campus takes a great deal of time and the Vikes’ Cafe guarantees that food purchases are quick and easy. In addition to the specials, the cafe offers a “Free and Reduced Lunch” option where students in a tough financial standing are provided free lunch. Numerous students have stated that the VC is “nutritious and delicious.” All food provided by the VC follows all nutritional guidelines set by the district. This helps target the athletes on campus. In my opinion, the VC is able to provide a wide range of food selections that are great before practices and games. Multiple athletic coaches have shown their satisfaction and are consistently buying from the VC.  The VC has seven points of sale (POS), and all cashiers use state of the art POS systems. This has sped up the wait time and has allowed for great inventory management. Having been in existence for so long, the VC has tried and tested business practices that result in great efficiency and customer service.The VC is run by students, for the benefit of students. As those students managing and operating it learn about how to run a business, the rest of the student body gets to enjoy great food at affordable prices. As one of the students who works there, I believe the VC is always a great on-campus food option for students and faculty alike!