The Spur

Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: News

Media Credit: Kylie Jacobsen Ice-cream treats and the new mini-donut oven line the counter in the Mustang Zone

Starting this semester, the Mustang Zone will no longer be offering as much of a food variety as in the past. To compensate, the Mustang Zone has added dollar deals and new products.

Frozen products such as the Fuchi smoothie drinks and the chili-cheese dogs will be removed from the jam-packed freezer this semester.

"With the freezer so full, I feel like everyone was overwhelmed," John Alcorn, Assistant Director of Student Center Operation, said. "We are removing some of the higher end priced products… when students want something quick to eat they only want to spend a couple dollars."

Often, food offered in the Mustang Zone serves as "the testing ground for new products." At the Mustang Zone, suggestions are welcome for new products.

"It's a good place to introduce them," Alcorn said.

If the product does well in the Mustang Zone, it is carried over and sold in the frozen food vending machines in Sweetland Hall and East and West Commons.

"We have to carry what's going to sell, be profitable and not have waste. We want to meet the needs and wants of the students and faculty," Alcorn said.

In place of the removed products more ice-cream, theater-style candy and freshly made State Fair donuts and cheese curds will be offered at cheap or dollar prices.

"We now have our own oven fresh [donuts and cheese curds] like at the fair or carnival. It's the same product that Valleyfair sells."

For half a dozen State Fair mini-donuts, students can expect to pay $1.99.

"We just got them at the beginning of the week," said Jeff Johnson, sophomore Mustang Zone employee. "They are doing well."

Along with new treats come new prices for video rentals. Now, rentals are a dollar a day, to "promote the dollar-a-day attitude."

"We want our video rentals to work more like Redbox," Alcorn said.

Products left in the freezer include Red Baron deepdish pizza, two varieties of Hotpockets and White Castle cheeseburgers, along with many types of ice-cream treats. All unsold products were given away to students who rented movies at the end of last semester before the products reached their expiration date.

The Mustang Zone is on Facebook and students are encouraged to post food suggestions on the wall.

"We are always looking for new ideas," Alcorn said.

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