With the start of the new school year, one question is weighing on everyone's minds: is Thrive thriving?
Thrive, a popular eatery previously located on Central Campus, offers food options from late night snacks to quick breakfast items to acai bowls. Since the closing of Central Campus, the restaurant has relocated to the apartments at 300 Swift Avenue. Along with the change in location, the menu has been cut down and the store has been reconfigured to fit the new, smaller space.
These changes have received mixed reviews from both employees and students.
“I liked [Thrive] before because it was more like a restaurant,” said Jasmine Harris, a sophomore who lives at 300 Swift. “It is more like a store now.”
The previous incarnation of Thrive on Central Campus boasted a restaurant-style eatery where students could sit down and order a range of items off the menu. Harris described the old location as comfortable and homey—a great place to grab a meal while studying or chatting with friends.
Asnaldo Aldama, an employee who has worked at Thrive for nine months, noted that the menu, configuration and size of the space at Thrive have all been cut down from its previous location.
The layout of the new space is tight and resembles a convenience store, with rows of common food items lining the back walls and a counter where students can order food. Located adjacent to Thrive are a few tables where students can eat and work.
“[The new Thrive] is a lot less glamorous,” sophomore Jessi Brooks said.
In addition, the store has shifted its focus to a more health-based menu. The restaurant no longer offers many of its popular fried options, such as chicken tenders. It still sells beer and wine.
“The relocation [of Thrive] is beneficial to a certain extent,” Aldama said. “The reason I think that it’s not beneficial is because half of the menu is gone, which includes most of the fried food items, which is what the kids like.”
Although some students are not happy with the loss of these menu items, other students appreciate Thrive’s new health-based focus and frequent the store for its popular acai bowls.
“There are a lot of places on campus where you can get fried food,” Brooks said. “So the fact that the menu changed doesn’t really impact me. I like the acai bowls and the things they serve now.”
The new location is also more convenient for students, despite the decrease in size. Tucked away on the first floor of 300 Swift, the location allows students living in the apartments to have easy access to Thrive’s diverse food offerings.
“I’m very appreciative of [Thrive’s new location],” said sophomore Jacob Spigelman, a resident of 300 Swift. “The food is super good, and [Thrive] has really good healthy options.”
Another benefit of the new location is the opportunity for workers and students to interact on a regular basis.
“I love the new location because everybody is all in one space,” said Melissa Spivey, an employee who has worked at the eatery for about a year.
Thrive is doing well at its new location, Spivey added.
“Oh we thrive,” she said, “and we gonna thrive every year.”
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.