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Emory University students who have gone to Emory Village recently seeking a reprieve from the food served at the Dobbs Common Table (DCT) and Cox Hall will have been disappointed. Pandemic-related dips in patronage have made Emory Village a ghost town, with the former locations of Lucky’s Burgers and Brew, Slice and Pint and Rise-n-Dine all standing vacant with no clear replacements on the horizon.
Many of the area’s other establishments do not cater well to the Village’s largest customer base: the Emory student body. For instance, many options on the menus of restaurants such as Double Zero and Wagaya are overpriced for most college students. In order to develop Emory Village into an integral part of the Emory community, the University should purchase the property and work closely with business owners to institute a plan where students can pay with Dooley Dollars.
Direct control of Emory Village by the University is not a novel idea. Though Emory considered purchasing it in the mid 1990’s, it never happened. Owning the property would shift away from high-end offerings for the wealthy in the community and provide incentives for student-centric businesses to come to Emory Village. Having more cheap and quick dining options would not only create more student traffic but also offer more dining choices and convenience. The University would gain rent revenue and a more attractive campus environment. By being the center of a lively, thriving community with a great deal to offer young people, particularly in dining options, Emory would attract more new students and improve the experience of existing members of the Emory community. It would be a sizable investment on the part of the University, but it would pay off in the long-term.
Even if the University is unwilling to directly take over Emory Village, pushing its restaurants to accept Dooley Dollars would go far in making them more accessible to students. The savings on taxes would add up for students to make Emory Village restaurants more financially feasible as alternatives to on-campus dining options. A student who typically spends $50 a week on food at Emory Village would save almost $200 in a year if they didn’t have to pay the state and local sales tax.
Emory must work to ensure student food security and do what it can to make living on campus more affordable. Emory’s student intervention services saw an 80% increase in the number of students who needed food-related help between 2016 and 2019. Securing cheap and accessible food options at Emory Village would alleviate some pressures on students who are strapped for cash.
Emory Village is a central part of the student experience, a mere minute’s walk away from the heart of campus. The Village’s restaurants and stores serve students, faculty and staff alike, providing an alternative to on-campus services without the hassle of a long drive. In fact, graduates of the University have gone on to open their own restaurants and bars in the area, including the now-closed Jagger’s, as well as Park Bench & Tap. In recent years, however, some businesses at Emory Village, such as the high end spa Tutor, are more oriented toward Druid Hills’ wealthier residents, making Emory Village a void right on the doorstep of Emory for students.
The restaurants which have remained open are largely too expensive for college students — pricey establishments such as Wagaya, Dave’s Cosmic Subs and Double Zero fail to provide affordable alternatives for even semi-regular eating. Regardless of quality, a pasta dish that costs upward of $16, such as the cheapest pasta option at Double Zero, is simply not sustainable for college students. While there are other cheaper options, including the much-loved Falafel King, there is not enough variety to satiate the needs of Emory students. Emory Village is also only a short walk from campus, allowing students to save money on gas or ridesharing for those craving an off-campus meal.
Emory must take action to improve Emory Village. The current mixture of closed stores and overpriced restaurants does not serve the University. To solve this, Emory should buy the property and push stores to accept Dooley Dollars and tailor their offerings towards students. In turn, Emory should support them through crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic to protect the University environment. Such development is crucial to the quality of life of the student body. Emory has a responsibility to improve the student experience and the campus environment, and that means purchasing Emory Village.
William Wainwright (25C) is from Atlanta, Georgia.
William Wainwright (he/him/his 25C) is from Atlanta, Georgia and is planning on majoring in international studies. He is interested in politics, philosophy and music. He will also read just about any book you put in front of him.
