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Coastal Market Opens at Virginia Wesleyan
Campus convenience store serves up grab-and-go items and late-night snacks
University News | January 31, 2020
Photo Gallery: Coastal Market Ribbon Cutting
Virginia Wesleyan University and its dining services provider Sodexo opened the doors to Coastal Market this month, giving students and community members additional access to on-campus grab-and-go items and late-night snacks.
A ribbon cutting was held for the new venue on January 31 in the Jane P. Batten Student Center, with a number of senior officials from the University attending along with dozens of students, faculty, and staff who enjoyed free samples and raffle prizes.
The convenience store officially opened with the start of the semester, retailing fresh foods like sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs, as well as soft pretzels, ice cream, crackers, chips, and candy. Personal items are also available for purchase, such as deodorant, toothpaste and razors. Store hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Coastal Market’s origins began with student requests, said Jason Seward, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs.
“Over the years we’ve had student interest, we’ve had students do research projects,” he told guests at the ribbon cutting. “As recent as last year, we had a few students who looked into how realistic having this on campus would be. It does my heart good to know that we now have a convenience store that is enhancing the student experience and serving our campus population.”
Tim Lockett, General Manager for Sodexo Dining Services, echoed Seward’s sentiments.
“We heard you when you asked for this,” Lockett told students. “We were finally able to make it come true, and we hope you’ll enjoy it.”
The addition of Coastal Market is part of a larger effort to enhance Virginia Wesleyan students' experience. Work began in December on several projects in Batten Plaza, an area recently re-branded to help better identify the different corridors of the Jane P. Batten Student Center and Boyd Dining Center.
Projects included transformation of the Marlin Grille to the new and improved Harbor Grill, as well as updates to the customer service center. The information center has been relocated to a more central and accommodating area—at the "T" adjacent to the aquarium—for streamlining services and better assisting campus community members and guests.
Improvements are also forthcoming to Boyd Dining Center, with a renovation that will feature modernized service areas and contemporary seating (view renderings). That project is scheduled to get underway this summer with expected completion in fall 2020.