Alpine Bagel no longer open late at night

Students craving a late night snack at Alpine Bagel Cafe will no longer find what they’re hungry for.

Alpine, a popular destination for coffee and bagels, is limiting its hours of operation, closing at 10 p.m. ­— instead of 2 a.m. — due to a lack of demand for multiple late night food options in the Student Union, said Scott Myers, director of food and vending for Carolina Dining Services.

Alpine was forced to reduce its hours to accommodate Wendy’s as the only restaurant open at all hours, which is located in the newly renovated basement of the Student Union.

“We looked at current business levels at different times of the day,” Myers said. “There’s not enough business after 10 at night to afford two late night businesses.”

The Student Dining Board and students on the Carolina Union Board of Directors implemented the changes, Myers said.

He said students debated for a year about what restaurant to place in the basement of the Union, deciding on Wendy’s because of its late-night hours.

But not all students are satisfied with Wendy’s as their only late-night option.

“It’s a problem because it’s convenient to come late and get food when studying,” said senior Amanda Copeland, who said she is a frequent Alpine customer.

Paul Hartley, Alpine’s assistant manager, said he is confident that the business is still thriving despite the scale back.

“We’re still rolling like always,” Hartley said.

He added that it’s too soon to tell if there are any significant losses in profit caused by the changes.

In February, Hartley said he wasn’t worried about business at Alpine, since it and Wendy’s offer a different menu.

Myers said he’s confident that Wendy’s will best satisfy the needs of students, and that it offers a variety of options while maintaining affordable prices.

Myers added that Wendy’s has been generating a lot of business since it opened, but it is having trouble attracting customers after 4 a.m.

Other students have expressed disdain at the long wait times Wendy’s sometimes produces.

Senior Alexis Pace said she was disappointed to find that Alpine was closed when she wanted something to eat.

“I went to Wendy’s — it was packed. The line was out the door because everyone was there,” Pace said.

Freshman Hannah Bennett said she is also frustrated with the long lines.

“I still like it; the new part of the Union is pretty cool downstairs,” Bennett said.

“But I do not like the line system at Wendy’s. It’s pretty aggravating.”

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