A Hybrid Mini-Mart

MORE THAN A C-STORE. Sam’s Place outlets combine branded hot food station concepts with grab-and-go takeout options and packaged retail items.

Sam's Place is a mini-market concept that combines a c-store component featuring a modest selection of retail packaged goods with a strong foodservice component, including both grab-and-go and fresh hot choices. There are currently six full-sized Sam's units and four Express versions (modest-sized kiosks) of the concept around campus. The largest, Sam's West, opened in September 2009 and currently serves as the department's highest grossing outlet with $4.2 million in sales in 9½ months. Two national branded concepts — Chick-fil-A and Quizno's — account for almost a third of that volume, with the rest from in-house concepts like The Fire Bowl (Mongolian grilled dishes made to order), Green Works (made-to-order salads), It's a Wrap (wrap sandwiches), Tio's Fajitas, Tuscan Kitchen (Italian/pizza), West End Grill and Sushi With Gusto, where a master sushi maker rolls out the merchandise in full view of customers. As at all Sam's locations, there is a retail component of dry and frozen foods, snacks and sundries.