The Beach Hut convenience store near the University Library, pictured on Oct. 10, now includes additional food and drink options for the fall semester. Convenience stores across campus are experiencing higher crowd congestion due to the Future U construction. Jorge Hernandez | Long Beach Current.
Campus convenience stores are a staple for students, offering a variety of caffeinated drinks, savory snacks and more. However, ongoing construction and the closure of several restaurants have added pressure on the remaining stores to satisfy students.
With a record student enrollment this fall and a multi-year-long Future U project displacing dining options in the University Student Union, the remaining convenience stores on campus are dealing with an influx of students and long lines.
“We haven’t necessarily seen an increase in sales, but we have definitely seen an increase in traffic,” said Cyndi Farrington, chief business officer for Beach Shops. “The products are selling; if people don’t like stuff, they’ll buy it once, but that’s it.”
With longer lines and fewer places to shop due to the USU closure, students have had to find workarounds.
“It used to affect me, but then I tried to find the locations that have a microwave around campus and kind of found somewhere without many people,” Iris Tran, fourth-year marketing major, said. “I bring my own food…sometimes I go here for soft drinks or some candies, [but] I come here for the microwave.”
Before the start of the semester, Long Beach State made preparations to account for these changes and has kept up with student demand, according to Shannon Couey, Associated Students, Inc. communications manager, via an email exchange with the Long Beach Current.
“I’ve worked at both the Outpost and the Beach Hut, and each store has seen an increase in customers. Peak times are typically between noon and 2 p.m. for lunch,” said Haley Bathurst, Long Beach State alumnus and retail associate. “The Outpost also experiences a surge after 6 p.m. due to nearby night classes, as it is one of the few food options available in that area.”
Despite the increased crowds, Beach Shops has not experienced any product shortages at its stores. Beach Shops is also contracted with a new sushi vendor, Red Shell Sushi, after the previous vendor, Wild Blue, decided to cease its sales.
Feedback has been positive about the new sushi vendor, according to Farrington.
“We’ve been able to keep locations consistently stocked with all the essentials […] since reopening on Aug. 25, we’ve seen daily increases in traffic across our convenience store locations,” Couey said.
In anticipation of the Future U project, Couey said that all Beach Shops stores added more fresh and frozen food options to their regular supply of goods.
The expanded food options at convenience stores are limited to items like salads, sushi, sandwiches, wraps, various bowls and more, with a lack of hot food options aside from microwaveable meals.
“I think they should have more fresh food, more than instant food, but I don’t know how they would do that, but I would prefer something fresh and hot,” Tran said. “It’s always instant food, so I go here for the Buldak ramen as well; it’s very popular.”
The Beach Hut on upper campus, next to the Academic Services building and University Library, reopened this semester and will serve soup by the end of October, according to Farrington. Soup was available before the store’s conversion to Amazon’s Just Walk Out store system in 2023.
“Feedback has been very positive,” Couey said. “Faculty and staff in the AS building especially appreciate the options nearby, and students value having a location close to their classes that’s also open late.”
According to Couey, the Amazon format was not popular with many on campus due to its limited options, so it switched back to a convenience store model this semester.
“This one used to be like the Amazon one last semester that I was here, so it kind of threw me off when I saw that this one was the Beach Hut now,” third-year English education major Kayla Bustos said. “I liked it, I feel like it was easy and convenient, if I didn’t want to buy anything, I just walked out.”
Despite the change, the Beach Hut is still Bustos’ most frequented store.
Current convenience store options on campus:
The Art Store at the College of Arts:
Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
Beach Hut near Academic Services and the Library:
Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Bookstore Convenience Store at the University Bookstore:
Monday – Thursday: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Outpost Convenience Store at the Outpost Grill near the College of Engineering:
Monday – Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
WallstrEAT Cafe near the College of Business:
Monday – Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday: Closed