October 1, 2024 — Saxbys is open for business at Marist! The completely student-run cafe held its grand opening last week in the brand-new Dyson Center atrium, marking the start of world-class experiential learning opportunities for students and providing a vibrant gathering spot for the entire Marist community. This lively atrium has quickly become one of the most popular areas on campus, offering more than just a place to grab coffee. 

Saxbys is an experiential learning hub where students take the lead in running every aspect of the business. Operating a business on campus is challenging work, and Saxbys employs 45 students in varying shifts and roles. Student team members are divided into three categories—barista, culinary, and hospitality—and have undergone hands-on, certified training programs in their respective roles. The students have full responsibility for the business.

Marist Saxbys SCEO Mabel Aronson '25 cuts the ribbon during last week’s grand opening, with Nick Bayer, Saxbys Founder and CEO, on her right, and Michael Frungillo, President of Gourmet Dining, and Dr. Will Lamb, Dean of the School of Management, on her left. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist College.

The team is led by Mabel Aronson '25, the first Student Cafe Executive Officer (Student CEO). After hiring her entire team, Mabel is now responsible for the whole operation, working closely with both faculty mentors and Saxbys representatives. It’s an opportunity she’s been looking for since coming to Marist.

“In the spring of 2022, I transferred to Marist because I wanted to be part of an institution that truly embraced experiential learning, both inside the classroom and out,” said Mabel. “Each opportunity and experience paves the way to the next, and I can't help but feel hopeful and excited for this next chapter.”

The student team keeps the business running six days a week in real world jobs as team members of Saxbys on campus. While the work is an innovative partnership between Saxbys, Gourmet Dining and the School of Management, all students are welcome to apply for open positions each semester. These partnerships provide for these unique opportunities to work on campus. 

“At home, I work in a family business—an ice cream shop—and I'm really dedicated to the service industry,” said Nicole Longo '27, an accounting major and team lead. “I'm excited to be being more involved on campus, meeting new people every day, and getting to talk with everybody.”

“I worked in service over the summer, so it's something that's comfortable for me, especially as I was looking for a job,” said Nathan Dimone '26, a media studies and production major with a concentration in television. “I'm also excited about the sense of community that we have. Everybody seems like they can get very close, so I'm excited for that.”

While Saxbys locations are emerging on college campuses nationwide, this is the first Saxbys in New York state, making it a truly unique opportunity for Marist students.

“This innovative partnership allows students to hone important skills like emotional intelligence, cultural agility, and resilience—things that are impossible to fully learn in the classroom but are critical for success in life,” said Nick Bayer, founder and CEO of Saxbys. “It's going to be incredibly challenging, but also really rewarding.”

“There’s a long tradition of experiential learning at Marist. There have been a lot of great experiential learning programs at Marist for a long time,” said Dr. Will Lamb, Dean of the School of Management. “I feel like the cafe has the opportunity to elevate this to a new level.”

The Marist Saxbys team ready for business during the grand opening event. Photo by Nelson Echeverria/Marist College.

About the Cafe
Saxbys will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The cafe will be closed on Sunday.

All food and beverage orders can be placed in person or ahead of time using the Grubhub app. Students will also have meal exchange options available. Just look for “Saxbys.”