By Debra Greene
DAILY BRUIN CONTRIBUTOR
Since remodeling the Taco Bell station at Campus Corner at the
beginning of the school year, the Associated Students of UCLA has
reported losing revenue and may have to invest half a million
dollars into the faltering restaurant.
Despite hopeful expectations, Campus Corner continues its
downward slope, as profits drop $106,000 from last year.
“We are not sure if we should continue the
operation,” said Richard Delia, ASUCLA financial
director.
Campus Corner, adjacent to Bruin Walk and across from Kerckhoff
Hall and Ackerman Union, opened in 1992 as a franchise, whereby
UCLA operates the facility while using a company’s name and
product ““ in this case, Taco Bell’s.
“This is a format where you have to follow their rules if
you are a franchise,” Delia said.
Both Delia and Robert Williams, director of food operations for
ASUCLA, have attributed the downward sales to rules imposed by Taco
Bell on ASUCLA.
Last year, officials at Taco Bell decided to stop selling
pre-packaged food and required that all food items be made after
the customer orders them.
“We had to commit space to Taco Bell alone to go as fast
as we thought we needed to go in terms of service,” Williams
said.
Changes were made, including taking out the cash registers on
the outside of the facility, which also sold chips, sodas and
muffins.
The sandwiches which used to be sold at Campus Corner were moved
to Cooperage last fall so that both sides of Campus Corner could be
occupied by Taco Bell.
“We are selling a little bit more Taco Bell product, but
we lost the sandwich business along with the concession
foods,” Williams said.
Though sales at Campus Corner are down overall, Taco Bell
product sales have increased by $10,000 this year.
In addition, Taco Bell extended the contract for a year so that
the facility could be remodeled to look aesthetically pleasing,
Delia said, adding that the remodeling will cost half a million
dollars in capital.
“We are carefully evaluating that because if we
can’t get those sales to turn around, it’s very tough
to invest a half million dollars,” he said.
The construction is scheduled for summer 2003, according to
Williams.
Tony Sosa, manager of Campus Corner, doesn’t think Campus
Corner will close.
“It’s a perfect spot for students to gather to eat
and talk,” he said.
Williams said he is confident that Taco Bell will continue at
Campus Corner.
“I have no reason to believe at this point that it
won’t be here, even though it’s not doing as well in
sales, it’s still doing OK,” he said.
No decision regarding whether to continue the contract with Taco
Bell will be made for several months.
Williams said he has to study the results of a food service
survey before making a decision. The analysis should be completed
in three to four weeks, he said.
“The survey will have a great impact on what we do with
all our facilities for the future,” he said.