In fall 2013, Auntie Anne’s coming to campus was the latest buzz. Fast forward two years, and the hot pretzel staple is still nowhere to be seen in the LSU Student Union.
LSU Student Union Communications Coordinator Heather Gulino said the deal fell through because of “red tape and a lot of paperwork.”
“With University regulations and Auntie Anne’s regulations, the two were not able to move forward with an agreement that benefited both parties,” Gulino said.
The Daily Reveille previously reported in October 2013 then-Auxiliary Retail Development and Technology Services Director Stephen Barr said Auntie Anne’s was set to open by the start of the next school year.
Student Government Senator William Baumgardner announced in November 2013 that two ICEE machines would also be installed in the Union as soon as January 2014, with locations at On-The-Geaux and Auntie Anne’s. The machines never arrived.
Although there is no room in the Student Union for new restaurants, LSU is constantly looking for food vendor requests as contracts come and go, Gulino said.
Jamba Juice’s departure from the Union is an example of the unpredictability of vendors’ contracts, Gulino said.
“Nobody was expecting Jamba Juice to not re-sign their contract and for Smoothie King to come in here,” Gulino said, “but we’re happy that we got another smoothie vendor.”
Smoothie King opened in the Union on the first day of school and is here to stay, Gulino said.
“It’s a local company,” Gulino said. “Jamba Juice is great, but it’s a California company, and everybody was really excited to get a local brand in here.”
Because of a lack of space in the Union, Gulino said LSU looks to create new, mobile food options, like bringing the Smoothie King food truck to campus.
But Gulino said she is not making any promises.
“Again, lots of paperwork,” Gulino said. “Sometimes it goes through, other times it doesn’t.”
The Union remains open to suggestions from students on which companies to bring to campus, including establishments outside restaurants.
Administrators have even toyed with the idea of offering optometry services in the Union and converting half of the LSU Student Union Barbershop into a nail salon, Gulino said, but the ideas never finalized.
For some students who spend a significant amount of time in the Union, such as finance freshman Brady Parker, the complex already has enough restaurants and student services.
“If I am not in class, I am here,” Parker said. “I actually am pleased with what they have here. I really don’t see a need for any other places.”