The contract between Wright State and Chartwells has been finalized, and the organization has officially taken over as Wright State’s food provider.
Chain locations such as Starbucks coffee, Jamba Juice and Tim Hortons are all expected to open either this year, or in 2014. Most locations on campus have already changed over to Chartwells names, and several others will change in the fall.
Chartwells replaced Sodexo, Wright State’s food provider for the past 10 years. Executive Business Director Art Neff said the conversion between providers was smooth.
“Everything went very well in the transition,” said Neff. “They can get very ugly. I’ve heard horror stories. But ours went very well.”
Neff said the contract negotiations took slightly longer than originally anticipated, as those involved discussed the financial details and the specific language of the contract.
“[The negotiation] was mostly the choice of words and interpretation,” Neff said. “Down the road, 5 or 10 years from now, a whole different set of people will read that contract. They have to clearly understand what we agreed to.”
The smoothie location Jamba Juice will open in fall of 2013 if all construction goes according to plan, said WSU Hospitality Services Marketing Director Clint Kernen.
Starbucks and Tim Hortons are expected to open in 2014, though Café Wright in the library will begin serving Starbucks products this fall, Kernen said.
“If construction goes the way we hope, Café Wright will get an update, and we will proudly serve Starbucks,” Kernen said. “But we will not have the full Starbucks menu. Hopefully the full menu will come in fall of 2014.”
The Burger King in The Hangar is scheduled to become to a 24-hour Denny’s location as well, Kernen said.
Neff said that the contract with Chartwells is good for six years with a pair of two-year renewal options.
“This whole process started last fall,” Neff said. “We’re excited that they are on campus. It’s been a lot of work for a lot of people.”
