A Chick-fil-A food truck and The Beacon, a family-owned food truck, have agreed to be on campus every weekday during the 2017 fall semester. The trucks are one way that campus officials are bringing more food options to the university, and there are plans in the works for coffee!
The Beacon made its first appearance on campus Tuesday, April 25. The Beacon has only been around for about a month and Texas A&M University-San Antonio was their fourth pop-up.
Linda Sanchez, owner of The Beacon, said her husband co-owner James Sanchez has been in the food industry for 20 plus years. “We wanted to do something for ourselves, work for ourselves,” Sanchez said.
Education Sophomore Emily Sanchez, 24, works alongside her parents. She said the best thing about her parents’ food truck being on campus is being able to work and go to school.
Along with their great unicorn logo they brought along their variety of food not offered in the cafeteria. They had options from “Knife and Fork Tortas” to desserts.
After talking to Emily after the preview she said “The Jaguar”- Braised beef rib with french onion spread and beef jus – was the best seller. “We sold out of the spiced chicken first, then the carnitas sold out so we just kept selling out of everything,” Sanchez said. “Soon all we had left was the Mexican Hot Dogs.”
Students said food trucks were a wonderful idea and were very excited to see more food on campus.
Kinesiology junior Rigo Miramontes loved the idea of bringing food trucks on campus.
“[I wish they would bring] not your everyday fast food, maybe bring food trucks from downtown,” Miramontes said.
The food trucks will be located between the Madla Building and the Central Academic Building every day starting fall term from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Dr. Bill Spindle, vice president of business affairs, says he has big plans for food options on campus during the fall. Food trucks were just the start, an expansion and a gourmet coffee station are on their way to A&M-San Antonio.
There have been questions about having food trucks since last spring, “up until this year we didn’t have the number of students you need to justify the expense of having more food here,” Spindle said. He is also trying to bring in some food trucks from A&M-College Station.
Spindle has been working on trying to bring food trucks on campus since arriving last fall. But that’s not the only thing he has been working on.
Esperanza Hall, the campus’ first dormitory will open in the fall. Therefore, more food options on campus and an expansion of the cafeteria was well needed.
The start of this expansion should start during the summer. As well as more seating space, there are plans to expand the kitchen and their ability to make more food.
Within the new Science and Technology building, they plan on having a Starbucks.
Until then, there is a gourmet coffee station in the works. It will be located in the game room and available for use during summer session 1 in June.
