Gabriella Mateo | Staff Writer
Breezeway Market will remain open until 2 a.m. during the Fall and Spring semesters on an experimental basis through the end of September, according to FIU’s Office of Business Services.
The extension follows students’ concerns about late-night access to food and essentials, including a petition titled “Provide 24-hour access to food and essentials at FIU,” which had 665 signatures when it was brought to SGA President Alyssa Mederos’ attention.
“You’re in the library studying during finals and you’re hungry or you’re at campus after working late; you need these options,” Mederos said.
In an email to Mederos, Business Services said that Breezeway Market previously operated until 2:00 a.m., but late-night usage did not support maintaining a fully staffed operation. The university subsequently set its Fall and Spring hours to 1:00 a.m., while adding the 24-hour Crave Café to provide late-night access for residential students.
Business Services said the new 2:00 a.m. hours will allow the university to evaluate demand before deciding whether to continue the extended schedule beyond September.
Along with the later closing time, Breezeway Market will expand its hot food menu with options including wings, nuggets, and pizza. Business Services also plans to expand the 24-hour Crave Café with additional hot food, snacks, beverages, and convenience items.
The university also cited 24/7 food delivery through Grubhub as another late-night option for students. According to Business Services, students affiliated with FIU can receive delivery from participating restaurants without delivery fees.
Mederos said the effort is part of SGA’s broader push to address food access on campus.
“I want to be the bridge…we’re pushing to fight food insecurity on campus,” Mederos said.
Business Services said it will continue reviewing student feedback, usage patterns, and operational data to determine whether additional changes to dining hours are necessary.
In addition to securing extended food service hours, SGA is trying to form a program called Food for Fines, which would allow students to pay off their parking citations through donations to the FIU Student Food Pantry.
Under the proposed program, parking citation costs would be covered through SGA’s Presidential Discretionary Fund, a $17,500 annual fund that is distributed as approved by SGA. Mederos emphasized that the program has not yet been finalized, but said her ideal timeline is to launch it within “2 to 3 weeks after school starting.”
“We want to be transparent, forward-facing, and making sure we’re engaged. It’s important that we’re rebuilding that trust between the student government and student body,” said Mederos.
About Post Author
