Saxbys Opens, Offering Students Experiential Learning and a Vibrant Gathering Spot
October 1, 2024 鈥� Saxbys is open for business at Marist! The completely student-run cafe held its grand opening last week in the brand-new Dyson Center atrium, marking the start of world-class experiential learning opportunities for students and providing a vibrant gathering spot for the entire Marist community. This lively atrium has quickly become one of the most popular areas on campus, offering more than just a place to grab coffee.
Saxbys is an experiential learning hub where students take the lead in running every aspect of the business. Operating a business on campus is challenging work, and Saxbys employs 45 students in varying shifts and roles. Student team members are divided into three categories鈥攂arista, culinary, and hospitality鈥攁nd have undergone hands-on, certified training programs in their respective roles. The students have full responsibility for the business.
Marist Saxbys SCEO Mabel Aronson '25 cuts the ribbon during last week鈥檚 grand opening, with Nick Bayer, Saxbys Founder and CEO, on her right, and Michael Frungillo, President of Gourmet Dining, and Dr. Will Lamb, Dean of the School of Management, on her left. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/澳门六合彩app.
The team is led by Mabel Aronson '25, the first Student Cafe Executive Officer (Student CEO). After hiring her entire team, Mabel is now responsible for the whole operation, working closely with both faculty mentors and Saxbys representatives. It鈥檚 an opportunity she鈥檚 been looking for since coming to Marist.
鈥淚n the spring of 2022, I transferred to Marist because I wanted to be part of an institution that truly embraced experiential learning, both inside the classroom and out,鈥� said Mabel. 鈥淓ach opportunity and experience paves the way to the next, and I can't help but feel hopeful and excited for this next chapter.鈥�
The student team keeps the business running six days a week in real world jobs as team members of Saxbys on campus. While the work is an innovative partnership between Saxbys, and the School of Management, all students are welcome to apply for open positions each semester. These partnerships provide for these unique opportunities to work on campus.
鈥淎t home, I work in a family business鈥攁n ice cream shop鈥攁nd I'm really dedicated to the service industry,鈥� said Nicole Longo '27, an accounting major and team lead. 鈥淚'm excited to be being more involved on campus, meeting new people every day, and getting to talk with everybody.鈥�
鈥淚 worked in service over the summer, so it's something that's comfortable for me, especially as I was looking for a job,鈥� said Nathan Dimone '26, a media studies and production major with a concentration in television. 鈥淚'm also excited about the sense of community that we have. Everybody seems like they can get very close, so I'm excited for that.鈥�
While Saxbys locations are emerging on college campuses nationwide, this is the first Saxbys in New York state, making it a truly unique opportunity for Marist students.
鈥淭his innovative partnership allows students to hone important skills like emotional intelligence, cultural agility, and resilience鈥攖hings that are impossible to fully learn in the classroom but are critical for success in life,鈥� said Nick Bayer, founder and CEO of Saxbys. 鈥淚t's going to be incredibly challenging, but also really rewarding.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 a long tradition of experiential learning at Marist. There have been a lot of great experiential learning programs at 澳门六合彩app for a long time,鈥� said Dr. Will Lamb, Dean of the School of Management. 鈥淚 feel like the cafe has the opportunity to elevate this to a new level.鈥�
The Marist Saxbys team ready for business during the grand opening event. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/澳门六合彩app.
Read about these unique opportunities and apply . For questions, contact Heather Hallenbeck, Director of Experiential Learning for the School of Management, at heather.hallenbeck@marist.edu. Applications are open to all academic schools.
澳门六合彩app the Cafe
Saxbys will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The cafe will be closed on Sunday.
All food and beverage orders can be placed in person or ahead of time using the Grubhub app. Students will also have meal exchange options available. Just look for 鈥淪axbys.鈥�
