Student-run food cart, a Penn College first, opens for business
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Ribbon-cutting photos by Matthew B. Deane, a mechatronics student from Oley
A Wednesday afternoon ribbon-cutting made it official: Clubhouse Concessions LLC, the first student-run enterprise at Pennsylvania College of Technology, is open for business!
Begun by Jason Wiedl, a construction management student from West Pittston, the food truck will be set up from 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at West Third and Susquehanna streets (on the campus mall, outside Bardo Gymnasium). Its start-up menu offers sliders, hot dogs, music and cornhole.
The ceremony was attended by officials from the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, among others, marking the culmination of Wiedl's path from ideation to launch.
"It started with the longtime passion for entrepreneurship and a desire to create something that brings people together," he said. "I then brainstormed what Penn College was missing, and the biggest thing that stood out to me was late-night food. Realizing that I couldn’t just open a food truck and park it on campus, I wrote policies and procedures so that any student can operate an approved business at the college."
That gives student entrepreneurs the opportunity to gain practical experience and, as in Wiedl's trailblazing case, develop their business acumen.
"Once these policies were in place, I began researching what it takes to open a food truck," he continued. "and the startup costs involved in doing so made me think outside the box."
After more research, Wiedl bought a golf cart, got all of his licenses and permits to operate, and Clubhouse Concessions LLC was born. Now, after a lot of hoops and hurdles, he has created an atmosphere where students can enjoy good food, good conversation, play some cornhole, listen to music and hangout.
"You do not realize all of the work that goes into something until you try it yourself," he said, recalling an overwhelming prep week of stressful learning curves. "And then, once you do try it yourself, when things don’t go the way you would have liked them to, it makes you appreciate – that much more – the things we take for granted in life."
Among them are Wiedl's family, which offered "huge support," and excited acceptance from the student body. (Wiedl sold out during a three-hour trial run.)
"I wouldn’t even have a business without the students of Penn College," he said. "What is more important to me than selling out of food is the atmosphere that was created. When nowhere else on campus is open, it was truly special to have people saying that they are so happy I pursued this, and that they will be repeat customers. Seeing students enjoying the food, having good conversation, playing cornhole and just hanging out was amazing.
"The cart, the lights, the custom cornhole boards, the student-run aspect, everything about it creates an atmosphere that is unmatched, and that is the part that I love," Wiedl added. "There is a lot to figure out and learn from, but that’s the whole point of student-run businesses: to learn, adapt, and develop."
