Einstein Bros. Bagels opens on campus
A line of students, their backpacks, textbooks, and sleeping bags snaked through Lodge 1 in the Sadler Center early Tuesday morning as the grand opening of the newly established Einstein Bros. Bagels neared.
Finally, at 8:30 a.m., Director of Dining Services Matthew Moss and the William & Mary Griffin cut the ribbon on the new eating establishment, and those in line found that it was worth their wait. The first 100 customers were given free bagels.
Additionally, Dallen McNerney ’14, the first person in line, earned 100 free bagels this semester. He waited at the Sadler Center for more than five hours to make sure he was first.
“I slept from [midnight] to 3, then I walked over. Then I did work -- got my reading done for the week,” McNerney said. “I was out in front [of the Sadler Center] at 3:30. The doors opened at 6:30, so that’s when I walked in.”
McNerney said he did it because “I like Einstein’s a lot. I love bagels.”
In addition to the free bagels, there were other prizes as well. Students could win coupons at a prize wheel or enter in a raffle to win 100 dining dollars, which can be used at all William & Mary dining and convenience locations. Faculty and staff could enter a raffle to win a free breakfast for their department.
“There’s been a very positive reception from the students,” said Faren Alston, the marketing manager of dining services, noting that “business has been really great even before the grand opening.”
According to Alston, the Food Services Advisory Committee, which is comprised of students and members of the administration, helped determine what to offer at this location.
“There are not many [Einstein Bros. Bagels] in this area,” she added.
Old Dominion University was the first to have one in the Hampton Roads area, and Virginia Commonwealth University added a branch on their campus earlier this year.
The location at William & Mary has a full breakfast and lunch menu that will be available daily, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Transitioning from Quizno’s Subs, which had previously been located there, to Einstein’s Bros. Bagels took five weeks and was completed over the summer.
