Sorority celebrates decade of growth

Stores will be closed today for reorganization and restocking, but should re-open Wednesday

Cougar News Staff

As UH food-service provider Chartwells prepared Monday afternoon to take control of campus convenience stores, the stores' employees were unsure of their employment status.

The stores, which were managed by California-based C-Stores, are being handed over to Chartwells because of repeated service complaints and company financial difficulties, officials said.

"There were discussions with UH officials because of poor performance," said Chartwells Director of Operations Charles Gray. "We had the blessing to give the C-Stores 30 days notice."

Gray said Chartwells gave C-Stores the 30 days' notice Monday morning. However, C-Stores opted to surrender operations as of 7 p.m. Monday.

"We just heard about it," Sheila Lawson, manager of the convenience store in the Quadrangle, said Monday afternoon. "As of 7 p.m. today, I'm officially unemployed."

Employees at the Moody Towers store said they were unaware of the pending change.

Chartwells manager Nick Iula could not be reached for comment regarding employment issues, but Gray said officials were "still formulating" a plan as to whether the C-Store employees would be retained.

C-Store has operated the four campus stores under a subcontract with Chartwells since it took over UH food service in 1998. Associate Vice President for Administration John Martin said the stores had received few complaints until fairly recently.

Diane Murphy, executive director of Student Affairs for the University, said complaints about the quality of the stores had reached the point that Chartwells felt it had to take action.

"Last week, and the week before last, we received numerous complaints that the shelves were not stocked appropriately," Murphy said. "Chartwells is stepping up to the plate."

She said notices of the management change would be placed in the mailboxes of campus residents. The convenience stores will remain closed today for inventory and stocking, but they should re-open at 10 a.m. Wednesday.

Gray said the campus could be able to look forward to better-managed and better-stocked stores under Chartwells management.