On Saturday, Oct. 16, Café M offered its services for the first time at a weekend school event, selling food from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. to varsity players, coaches, referees, parents and spectators at the 28th Annual Marlborough Volleyball Invitational Tournament.
Kathleen Antion, mother of Lauren Antion ’11 and Kate Antion ’14, suggested that Café M provide food at the tournament. In the past, the Junior Varsity and freshman Marlborough volleyball teams brought in and sold food at the event to raise money for the volleyball program. This system proved to be inefficient and didn’t raise a large enough profit. Antion therefore recommended that Café M supply food for the event instead.
“Normally we have to buy bagels, chips, sandwiches and coffee to sell, and I just thought to myself, why are we doing this when we have Café M?” Antion said.
Angel Guerrero, Head Chef, was originally worried about the sales and number of people who would buy food. Opening on the weekend incurs extra labor and food costs. Therefore, to be successful, the cafeteria needed a large number of customers to raise enough money to cover the extra costs.
“This was the first time we were open for the public. I was initially concerned that a lot of teams would bring their own food to the games,” Guerrero said.
Café M ended up almost breaking even, and the difference was paid by the Physical Education Department. Many said the idea worked well, and Café M plans on opening during this event in the years to come.
“We had a lot of teams come and buy food after their games. It was a success, and I look forward to continuing it in the future,” Guerrero said.
Athletic Director David Collicut said that because Café M has to support itself for events like this, the Invitational Tournament will be the only event that Café M can open for. Opening Café M for other evening or weekend sporting events, like the annual basketball tournament in December, doesn’t make sense logistically.
“The basketball tournament lasts 5 days. There aren’t enough people there at a time to spend money and make it work,” Collicut said.
Clinton Oie, Auxiliary Services Manager, said that although the Café didn’t make a profit, the general consensus was that the arrangement turned out well.
“It was a success. It just makes the school look really good,” Oie said.
Meghan McMonigle ’13, a member of the JV team, bought food from Cafe M after she was done refereeing Varsity games.
“I brought food home for my family from the game. They all really loved it and my younger sister was obsessed with the curly fries,” McMonigle said.
