Brand New Bernie’s

The former C-store has recently gotten an incredible transformation. Instead of white walls without a theme, the newly named Bernie’s is now green and gold that sports the college’s colors. The renovated store is located next to Massry Dining Hall in Snyder Hall. The spot is convenient to pick up some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream or cleaning supplies for your dorm or townhouse. The Senior Director of Dining Services, Rachel Jones, explained, “It gives the population at Snyder Hall and the Townhouses something craveable and consistent. There are no late night food options on that side of campus, so being open until 10 p.m. really makes people happy.” Another thing that makes the Siena community really happy is that the store also proudly carries many fair trade items like peanut butter, soap, rice and cookies.

Many people wondered why the changes to the store have occurred. Jones kindly informed me of the feedback that was received last year at the food committee. Students noticed an exorbitant amount of deli options that were served on the campus. Jones took note of this when renovating and making food changes to Bernie’s. Jones explained, “We used an existing AVI concept called Horizons and put our own spin on it. It is similar to a Chipotle, except you are able to not just have Hispanic-themed Bowls – but you can put some Asian flair into your bowls as well.” The new changes have given students more of a selection on the campus.

Put Phung ’21 has been a fan of the store since she arrived on campus last year. Although the renovations have made her love it even more! Phung commented, “C-store had always made me happy with its variety of items and the convenience of purchasing via Saint card.” Saint cards are a great option to pay for much-needed products, but they are not the only source that Bernie’s accepts. Jones mentioned, “Meal swipes, bonus dollars, cash and credit are all taken from open to close without restriction.” The convenient payment option, as well as products, make for an easy and valuable trip to the store.

A fast staple for the store is their new Bernie’s Bagels. The green and gold bagels will be sold to Saints on Thursdays for breakfast. If you would like to visit Bernie’s, the hours are Monday through Thursday 7:30 a.m. t 10 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.