INC NEWS - Duke First-Year Students to Get $50 to Spend at Ninth Street Restaurants

[Susan Kauffman]

DUKE FIRST-YEAR STUDENTS TO GET $50 TO SPEND AT NINTH STREET RESTAURANTS

DURHAM, N.C. -- Duke University is giving each first-year student $50 this
fall to spend at certain restaurants on or near Ninth Street.

The pilot program, called “Duke Dining/Durham Dollars,” is designed to
introduce the 1,600-plus members of the freshmen class to Durham and to
give a boost to businesses near East Campus, said Kemel Dawkins, vice
president for campus services. Students will receive an electronic card to
be used for in-store food purchases at participating restaurants on or near
Ninth Street, south of Markham Avenue.

“This pilot is being introduced as part of our new dining program at Duke,”
said Dawkins, whose Office of Campus Services oversees Duke’s dining
operations. “Duke is also committed to the success of the Ninth Street
District. In addition to offering students some flexibility, this program
will encourage them to explore Ninth Street and to support businesses near
campus.”

Elliott Wolf, president of Duke Student Government, said the program should
benefit both students and owners of restaurants near campus.

“Durham has a lot to offer Duke students,” Wolf said. “We are excited that
this program is in place to convey that to first-year students and help
local businesses at the same time.”

Nineteen restaurants are being invited to participate. If they agree, they
will be provided decals that can be displayed in their front window or door
to let students know that the Duke Dining/Durham Dollars card is accepted
there.

“I’m very excited about the idea,” said Giorgios Bakatsias, the owner of
three restaurants eligible for the program: George’s Garage, Vin Rouge and
Grasshopper. “The main reason I’m in Durham is because of Duke University.
The students are a great market for us. This just makes it more accessible
and is a win-win for both the community and the students.”

Dawkins explained that the scope of the pilot was limited this year to
restaurants closest to campus to allow administrators, students and
merchants to evaluate the program after the 2006-07 academic year. Ninth
Street businesses should benefit from the increased exposure, he said.

Also as part of Duke’s new dining program, the university announced in June
that it had signed an agreement with Compass Group, which manages a
portfolio of food brands that includes Bon Appétit and Chartwells, to
provide food services at six locations on campus.

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