First-Year Students to Get $50 to Spend at Ninth Street Restaurants

Duke University is giving each first-year student $50 this fall to spend at certain restaurants on or near Ninth Street.

The pilot program, called "Duke Dining/Durham Dollars," is designed to introduce the 1,600-plus members of the freshmen class to Durham and to give a boost to businesses near East Campus, said Kemel Dawkins, vice president for campus services. Students will receive an electronic card to be used for in-store food purchases at participating restaurants on or near Ninth Street, south of Markham Avenue.  

"This pilot is being introduced as part of our new dining program at Duke," said Dawkins, whose Office of Campus Services oversees Duke's dining operations. "Duke is also committed to the success of the Ninth Street District. In addition to offering students some flexibility, this program will encourage them to explore Ninth Street and to support businesses near campus."

Elliott Wolf, president of Duke Student Government, said the program should benefit both students and owners of restaurants near campus.

"Durham has a lot to offer Duke students," Wolf said. "We are excited that this program is in place to convey that to first-year students and help local businesses at the same time."

Nineteen restaurants are being invited to participate. If they agree, they will be provided decals that can be displayed in their front window or door to let students know that the Duke Dining/Durham Dollars card is accepted there.  

"I'm very excited about the idea," said Giorgios Bakatsias, the owner of three restaurants eligible for the program: George's Garage, Vin Rouge and Grasshopper. "The main reason I'm in Durham is because of DukeUniversity. The students are a great market for us. This just makes it more accessible and is a win-win for both the community and the students." 

Dawkins explained that the scope of the pilot was limited this year to restaurants closest to campus to allow administrators, students and merchants to evaluate the program after the 2006-07 academic year. Ninth Street businesses should benefit from the increased exposure, he said.

Also as part of Duke's new dining program, the university announced in June that it had signed an agreement with Compass Group, which manages a portfolio of food brands that includes Bon Appetit and Chartwells, to provide food services at six locations on campus.