Employees Reflect on the Role of Grill on Campus
Courtesy of Joonyoung Heo
By ADELLE PITTS, ELLEN JIN, ISHAAN SINGH, JAYDEN OH, MARVIN SHIM, and AADITYA BILANKANTI
As soon as class lets out each day, students flood in and out of EPAC, but one spot stands out as a hub during downtime: Grill. Serving as the campus convenience store, Grill is a popular hangout spot for students to do homework or socialize during breaks in the school day.
Grill features a variety of snacks and ready-to-go food items for students to quickly grab and eat. But in order to keep running, Grill is supported by a wonderful team of hardworking staff who do everything from managing checkout during rushes to restocking items. The work of this staff is what keeps this pillar of Exeter life running.
Grill Manager Scott Jeffco commented on his favorite parts of his daily work. “I come from a culinary background and enjoy redesigning and updating the menu, creating weekly specials, and sourcing new products from vendors to offer in the store,” he said.
Grill employee Ryan Jameson also added what his typical day looks like: “The biggest part for me is going into the cooler and restocking the drinks. Especially the Arizonas because people like to use their points on those, and trying to keep up with the amount of cookies that the students like to eat.”
In order to service students with this resource, extensive planning is put in place to make it run smoothly. Jeffco described the logistics of managing Grill. “A typical day for me starts with reconciling transactions from the previous day,” he explained. “I check in with staff to update them on campus events, place orders, manage inventory, and assist both in the kitchen and front of house, including filling shifts as needed.”
The workers acknowledge that Grill is a big part of student life, and reflect on the role they play in that. Jameson said, “I like looking out and seeing the amount of studying that they do because I don’t go to private school, so I think it’s just a lot different than what I’m used to.”
He continued, saying he hopes Grill is a place where students “can be socially active, hang out with their friends, and still get their work done.”
In addition to studying in Grill, students can quickly grab a snack and leave. Jeffco notes the convenience of Grill items. “Grill is a place for the community to grab a quick snack, meal, or coffee. We prioritize grab-and-go items, which are popular with students, while also balancing options that can be taken back to dorms for later,” he said.
The origins of Grill go far back into Exeter’s history, and it is clear that it has established itself as a vital part of the Exeter community. Jeffco commented, “I’m not sure exactly when Grill originated, but it goes back many years—there are photos in the library archives. Perhaps someone from the library could help pinpoint the date. The Grill operation moved out of the Art building, now College Counseling, when EPAC opened around 2006. That’s also when students began calling it ‘Grill’ rather than ‘The Grill.’”
Additionally, many students enjoy the services Grill provides, as well as its staff. Senior Sophia Jia reflected on her interactions with the workers there. “I can’t think of a specific instance, but the Grill workers are so nice. Especially Irini, she always asks if I need chopsticks whenever I get ramen,” said Jia.
Jeffco has high hopes for how Grill will continue to expand going forward. “Looking to the future, I’d like to see more shelving for a wider variety of products, as well as technology to increase service speed for large crowds, such as checkout-free technology now used in stadiums like the new Intuit Dome and in Amazon’s brick-and-mortar stores.”
Grill serves as a constant hub for students and its services are made possible by an excellent team of staff. Work behind the scenes often goes unnoticed, but a lot gets put into running this bustling convenience store. The Grill staff ensures that everything runs smoothly, creating a welcoming space for students throughout the day.
