Students hungering for new dining diversity at Portland State may have noticed a few more options since returning from winter break.
The southeast corner of campus now offers TartBerry self-serve frozen yogurt and Einstein Bros. Bagels along with Joe’s Burgers on the ground floor of the recently completed University Pointe apartments.
“It’s really convenient,” said child and family studies sophomore Anna Demots, who was studying at TartBerry over a bowl of frozen yogurt with toppings.
Demots, who lives in the apartments upstairs, said that many who live at University Pointe or in the Broadway Housing Building have been patronizing TartBerry and the other restaurants since they opened.
With its whimsical decor—including bright, child-like paintings on the walls, inspirational sayings written all around and skim boards serving as tabletops—TartBerry owner Valerie Schmitt said business has been great since the Jan. 9 opening.
“When people come in they say ‘It’s like a fairy tale!,’ ‘It’s like a dream!’”
Schmitt said that opening during the offseason (for frozen yogurt, at least) has been beneficial: “It’s kind of nice to work out the kinks.”
Interestingly, Schmitt said that one of the most popular toppings at the shop is balsamic vinegar, a trend that started when customers at the store’s downtown location began bringing their yogurt next door to Benessere Olive Oils and Vinegars for a finishing touch.
At Einstein Bros. Bagels, Sydney Brown, another University Pointe resident and student at the Art Institute of Portland, said that although the location is very convenient for her, some initial problems with the service gave her doubts.
“The only reason I came back was because they gave me a free coffee card, but the service got better.” Brown said she now likes Einstein’s a lot, and has eaten there about eight times. The restaurant already has one location on campus, in Smith Memorial Student Union, and its parent company, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, operates approximately 755 restaurants in 39 states and the District of Columbia, according to its website.
Estimating that 75 percent of the customers at Einstein’s are students, General Manager Tricia Matte said that that business has been good with classes back in session.
“Since we’re in a brand new, pretty building with housing all around, things have been very steady,” she said. “The only thing that’s cruddy is we have to fight over the garbage key.”
While he knows that it’s more financially sound to buy food and cook it in his apartment upstairs, sophomore mechanical engineering major Asa Anderson had a good reason for ordering his bagel sandwich: “I had a quiz in differential equations today, and this is my way of rewarding myself.”
The retro-’50s atmosphere of Joe’s Burgers, with its vinyl booths, Sputnik lamps and pervasive fryer smell, also has some modern touches, like flat-screen TVs playing ESPN, ample USB outlets and a soundtrack that includes Maroon 5 and B2K featuring P. Diddy.
Open for about two months now, Manager Staci Weston said that after a slow Christmas the business has done well.
“I’m excited—I think this could be an incredible location if we hit it right,” Weston said.
Aside from staples like burgers, fries and shakes, Weston said the location will soon add soups and salads along with vegan and vegetarian options. Also, at the end of the month the restaurant plans to open their late night pick-up window, which could stay open as late as 2 a.m. on weekends.
Weston said a hidden advantage of this location, the fourth in the local chain, has been that nearly three quarters of her employees live either upstairs or in the vicinity.
“I said [to employees] that if you’re late I’ll come up and knock on your door.”