As Uncle Harry's continues to lose revenue, the Central Campus grocery store may close its doors at the end of this year.
Between 1999 and 2000, the store lost a net $230,900, as sales revenue fell from $1.27 million to $1.04 million. During that same period, the Lobby Shop, located on West Campus, broke even.
Uncle Harry's has already cut back on hours to lower costs, said Director of Duke Stores Jim Wilkerson. And in an effort to attract more customers, it has added specialized foods and reduced prices. "Prices are in the competitive range and can't be cut anymore," Wilkerson said.
Officials attribute the losses--which continue to grow--to a shift in student spending toward campus eateries and off-campus grocery stores.
They say that if the store's revenues do not begin to rise again by the end of the semester, the University will consider closing it altogether. Wilkerson said if Uncle Harry's does close, he does not know what would replace it; he said he remains open to the possibility of expanding the Lobby Shop and the store in the East Campus Union.
Wilkerson hopes, however, that the store will not close because it remains the only food provider on Central Campus.
"Ultimately students will have to make a decision," he said.
"We want to provide for the students if the students want to be provided for."
Students expressed mixed feelings about the potential close, but most said life on Central requires a grocery store. "[Uncle Harry's is] an alternative for Central," said David Salguero, a sophomore. "It's a hassle to go off campus if you don't have a car."
Other students, however, preferred to leave campus for groceries.
"I'd rather go off campus because the prices here are exorbitant," said senior Izoduwa Ebose.
Pat Walker, stores operations manager, said prices are not higher at Uncle Harry's than at other local groceries.
"We try to stay competitive with Kroger's," she said. "We do price checks once a month. We just don't have the buying power that Kroger's does; thus, we can't lower our prices anymore."
But some students said even Kroger's prices are too high and that they shop elsewhere.
Walker added that she believes student sales would transfer to the Lobby Shop and the East Campus store if Uncle Harry's closes.
Ebose said the other stores on campus do not offer enough variety. "Although there are the other two stores on campus, they don't have anything, so I would end up taking my business elsewhere," she said.
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