One month into Pine Market’s new 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. schedule and expanded inventory, student opinion about the store remains mixed.

Cozmo Gallegos, ’28, goes to Pine Market every day.

“I love Pine Market, it’s great,” Gallegos said. “It has everything I ever need.”

Gallegos was annoyed when Pine Market closed last semester due to theft and does not approve of the new schedule.

“When I want a midnight snack, (I feel) kind of annoyed,” he said. “I would like it to be 24 hours.”

Tristan Marinch, ’27, also likes Pine Market and has a similar opinion to Gallegos on the new schedule.

“It is not as ideal and not as convenient, of course, because sometimes I do need a drink or something else late at night,” Marinch said. “I come here (to Pine Market) a bit less because of it.”
But Marinch said he does not have problems getting food after the dining halls have closed.

“I just try to get food before it closes,” he said.

Ryann Fishel, ’28, said that when the market closed last spring, it did not affect her because she lived in Crawford Hall, located on the opposite side of campus. Still, Fishel felt annoyed by the theft issues.

“I think it is annoying that people betrayed the trust of the college,” Fishel said. “We are at college, are we serious? I think that’s the worst part.”

Now, Fishel goes to Pine three or four times each week. She said she is not annoyed by the change of schedule.

“I don’t really mind, it’s basically the same hours I would go to visit it,” Fishel said.

According to Parkhurst General Manager Maria Foxall, the change of schedule has not appeared to interfere with Pine Market’s sales.

“I think because we are open as long as we are, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., the sales are about the same,” Foxall said.

Parkhurst Director of Operations Randi Hovel said that Pine Market has been doing well since the start of the semester, when the new changes were officially implemented. She noted that the student dynamic with Pine Market has shifted since its reopening.

“It’s different now without it being overnight,” Hovel said. “Students who are studying overnight don’t have that option anymore. But, we see a large increase while the students are able to go versus last year. During the day it wasn’t as popular; it was more popular towards the evening. Now, I feel like it’s more popular throughout the day.”

According to Hovel, Parkhurst is addressing student concerns around food access, encouraging students to use the vending machines around campus, which she said have options of sandwiches and frozen meals.

One vending machine is available around the clock in Murray Hall. Another is located in the Lawrence Lee Pelletier Library, which typically closes at midnight on weekdays.

“A lot of the food (at the vending machines) is frozen, so there’s meals you can make at home and there’s meals you are able to just microwave,” Hovel said.

Foxall thinks food access should not be an issue for the students.

“Because of the meal plans we have with the college, I don’t think there’s a lot of food insecurity,” Foxall said. “We are open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., so people can easily come and grab something before we close. It’s not like we have super limited hours of food access.”

The company does not plan to make Pine Market open 24 hours again, according to Foxall. It also does not plan on making any further changes to security measures.

“I think just having the cashier will be good, and we also have people assigned to stock the store in addition to the cashier,” Foxall said. “I don’t think we need anything beyond that.”