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Vol. XXXV, No. 7
By SEAN ORNER
Lion’s Eye staff writer
SEO0125@psu.edu
Penn State Delaware County has
decided to switch the company that will
service the cafeteria, the Lion’s Eye has
learned.
Catherine’s Catering Inc., owned by
Nick Logothesis, that provided the food
and vending machines, decided not to
make a bid to renew its contract with
the school. Catherine’s has been servic-
ing Penn State Delco for seven years.
Catherine's started with a three-
year contract, and has been renewed
each of the past four years.
Penn State Delco’s food service
committee, made up of students, fac-
ulty, and staff, decided that the new
contract should be awarded to the Joe-
Chris Betz Company.
That company is owned by Joseph
Betzala, Jr., who also currently owns
Java dJoe’s Restaurant, located in
Woodlyn.
“I am extremely pleased about the
Joe-Chris Betz Co. coming to campus,”
said Lisa Yerges, director of business
services for Penn State Delco. “Joe
Betzala’s enthusiasm, wealth of experi-
ence, and history of providing quality
food and service will certainly benefit
the campus.”
The new contractor will be up and
running in the cafeteria by September
2004.
Logothesis, meanwhile, said that
there were a variety of reasons that he
considered before deciding not to make
a bid to renew his contract.
“Because the new contract states I
have to stay open until (7 p.m.), it is no
longer viable,” said Logothesis when
asked why he decided not
to place a bid to renew the contract
for an eighth year.
Logothesis also said that he decided
not to place a bid because his own cam-
pus catering business had
diminished considerably.
“I can’t come into a situation know-
ing I'm going to lose
money,”
Logothesis said,
pointing out that he
was involved in three
other business ven-
tures, includ-
ing the
Sbarro’s in
Penn State University, Delaware County
PENNSTATE (
March 30, 2004 @ Delaware
County
aT
New food-service firm to take over cafeteria
Granite Run Mall. “I’ve worked all of
my life so I can be independent,” he
said.
Approximately four bids were given
to Penn State Delco before the decision
was made to award the contract to the
Joe-Chris Betz Company.
The new company in the cafeteria
Photo by Anteia Consorto
Catherine’s Inc. and owner Nick Logothesis will no longer operate the school
cafeteria, now that a new contract has been signed with the Joe-Chris Betz Co.
does not necessarily mean that the
prices of items in the cafeteria will go
down. According to Yerges, though, the
prices will be comparable overall to the
current prices. “When considering the
bids,” Yerges said, “the committee
focused on a number of things includ-
ing, for example, the quality of the food
served, the cleanliness of food opera-
tions, proposed hours of operation for
the cafeteria, and food pricing.”
When Yerges was asked why Penn
State Delco decided to put a new con-
tract for the cafeteria out for bid, she
pointed out two reasons.
“Two things prompted the decision
to bid the food service operation out,”
she said. “One, the fact that the current
contract with Catherine’s Campus
Catering was up for renewal and, two,
the results of the food-service survey
which the campus community partici-
pated in a couple of semesters ago. It is
typical for the institution to solicit pro-
posals at the end of the year.
“lI, along with the committee, am
very pleased with the vendor and
believe strongly that the students, fac-
ulty, and staff will appreciate and ben-
efit from this new operation,” Yerges
added.
However, Logothesis wanted to
make it clear that not renewing his con-
tract will not greatly affect his business
ventures overall.
“This is a minor part of my busi-
ness, this is for my enjoyment,”
Logothesis said. “I'm not hurting for
money.”
Logothesis, who was once a school
teacher, did say that he has some good
memories from the cafeteria. He
made it evident that he enjoyed being
around the students and said “I have
no regrets about being here. I love the
kids.” :
It was not clear whether the Joe-
Chris Betz Co. contract calls for the
cafeteria to have extended hours,
though Logothesis said the school
- wanted him to remain open until 7
p.m., had his contract been extended.
Also, it was not clear whether there
would be any other changes in the way
the cafeteria operates.
tion with them;
what would we
Cell Phones ...
... And our fascina-
, do without them?
Page 3
INSIDE
Student Profile.........................Page 2 Entertainment...
Wave of the Future..................Page 4 Editorial....... :
Are new diets safe?.................Page 4 Sports........ccooccsrsvnissinsnnnnen. Page 7
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