When the Stadium Center food court opened this August, many students rejoiced at the wealth of new dining options offered, yet few felt the effects of the new dining court as strongly as Mike Vanderburg.
Vanderburg is the owner of Caf’eacute; European, a small restaurant located just south of campus on Hyde Park Ave.
“Normally when UT is in session, we get a lot of faculty coming in,” he said. “We’ve noticed a drop off in the number of faculty members coming in this fall.”
Squeezed between The Retreat bar and Kennedy Place, Caf’eacute; European has been a staple of South Tampa dining for 13 years. The restaurant has faced a number of challenges during its existence, but the emergence of Stadium Center, especially Panach’eacute;, has cut into its business.
“The Vaughn Center [dining hall] didn’t seem to affect us, but the new food court has,” said Vanderburg. “I can’t be sure how much, though.”
The customer base at Caf’eacute; European is mostly faculty, Vanderburg said. He also added that students don’t eat there often because they have meal plans or other less-expensive dining options. A number of faculty members expressed that they liked the small restaurant and its convenience to campus.
Some admitted to dining there less often than before, but cited cost as the deciding factor rather than the options available.
“We’ve got people who have been coming here since we opened, and they still do,” said Vanderburg. “They used to come three times a week, but maybe now it’s down to once a week.”
With a menu featuring “the best” fish and chips, Caf’eacute; European has provided a casual dining experience for faculty and staff, not only when they are dining themselves but also when they entertain guests and prospective employees.
Vanderburg estimated that he has lost 10-15 customers each day, sometimes up to 20. He employs one student, but previously had a number of UT students working there.
Marta Garcia-Gutierrez Baez used to be a waitress at Caf’eacute; European, but had her hours cut back due to the lack of business.
“Working at Caf’eacute; European was one of the best jobs I could find as a college student,” said Garcia-Gutierrez Baez. “I wish people would appreciate the restaurant’s services more since they are wonderful. It really is a great place to eat.”
Despite the drop off in business at the beginning of the semester, Vanderburg thought it was highly probable that his customer base would grow in the near future.
“I don’t wish anyone [at UT] bad,” he said. “I hope we get the professors coming back in more than they are at the moment.”