On February 9, 2026, Sodexo introduced the Food Hive, a new convenience store within its Underground facility at Buena Vista University. The store aims to provide students with a wider range of food and household items. Officials highlighted its role in addressing access challenges for on-campus residents.
The Food Hive opened on February 9, 2026, as an expansion of Sodexo’s Underground operations on the Buena Vista University campus. Described as a convenience store, it offers students an expanded selection of products to meet daily needs.
Ken Allen, Sodexo’s general manager, and Jackie Cassaro, the restaurant supervisor, outlined the store’s offerings. These include household essentials such as medicine and laundry detergent, alongside food items like snacks, candies, and both warm and refrigerated options. Cassaro emphasized a particular feature: “It’s a gelato machine, we’ll have a couple of different flavors of gelato available, and we’ll be showing students next week on how to use it.”
Payment methods at the Food Hive include PayPal, Apple Pay, debit cards, credit cards, and Beaver Bucks. The initiative stems from Sodexo’s partnership with the university, particularly in discussions about on-campus apartments. Allen explained the motivation: “It’s our partnership with BV and our journey of conversations about the apartments. We’ve had some struggles over the recent years with student athletes and anybody that stays on campus, international students, whoever doesn’t go home during the holidays, having access to some of the food items.”
Looking ahead, Allen indicated plans for growth: “We’re starting small, and we can add to it.” Sodexo is actively seeking input from students to shape the store’s inventory. John Salazar sends an email to all students once per semester, allowing them to vote on items for both the Food Hive and the Underground menu and shelves. Students are encouraged to monitor their emails for participation details.
This development addresses practical challenges faced by campus residents, enhancing convenience without altering the core Underground setup.