Center for Student Business: Student Run Businesses for the University Community
The center, located on the campus of the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, Massachusetts in the United States, is committed to helping young people start businesses, especially co-operatives. The co-operatives the Center has helped form provide co-curricular training and education in co-operative management, life skills and business skills in a supportive and diverse setting. They contribute products and services to the University of Massachusett’s community and paid employment to undergraduate students. People’s Market, Earthfoods, Campus Design and Copy, The Bike Co-op and Tix Unlimited are all located in the Student Union.
People’s Market is a natural foods market providing the University community with gourmet coffee, herbal tea, bagels, an assortment of cheeses, fresh fruit and healthy snacks. People’s Market supports local and socially conscious vendors.
Earthfoods is a vegetarian/vegan cafeteria-style restaurant that serves lunch Monday through Friday. All food is prepared fresh daily and a variety of menu items include salad, soup, vegetable, entrée, dessert and beverage.
Campus Design and Copy features photocopying, both color and black and white, graphic design, posters, flyers, resumes and academic packets.
The UMASS Bike Co-op is a full service bicycle repair shop staffed by experienced mechanics and cycle enthusiasts. It offers quality bicycle accessories at competitive prices. Open seasonally.
Tix Unlimited is a student run business that handles ticket sales for all events held on campus by registered student organisations. This group is funded by the Student Government Association and has been mandated by the State to assure that a neutral party will oversee ticket sales and money deposits. Tix also manages the vending operations in the Campus Center.
Three snackbars are located in residence halls. Greenough Sub Shop’s menu includes a variety of subs, wraps, hamburgers, bagels, ice cream and a full line of beverages. They also provide catering for on-campus events such as conferences, meetings and parties. Located in Greenough Residence Hall, Greenough is open Sun-Thurs. 5:00 to11:30 PM.
Founded in 1971, Sylvan Snack Bar is the oldest student-managed snack bar on campus. Located in McNamara Residence Hall, Sylvan is open 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday. It offers great food at competitive prices and also delivers.
Located in Field Residence Hall, Sweets N’More Snack Bar’s menu ranges from brownies, ice cream, and milkshakes to bagels and grilled cheese sandwiches.
In all of these operations students gain some needed income and learn how to operate a business, notably through co-operative enterprise.
