Wylie Drummond, a sophomore at SMU, lives down the street from 7/11 and loves the convenience of being able to grab a quick snack.
“It’s awesome – 2 a.m. in the morning I can just grab my debit card and head straight to 7/11 and get some chips, taquitos, maybe a Slurpee, just a whole shopping spree,” Drummond said.
Whether it is studying or just late night hanging out, students are always looking for the perfect late night meal.
As campus empties out late at night with a barren Bishop Boulevard, or just a water fountain fluttering in front of Fondren Library, the uptick in Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches delivery drivers or 7/11 golden bags increases.
Students seem to welcome a “Turkey Tom” order wherever they go. Whether they are in the library, dorm room or a nearby off campus apartment, Jimmy John’s never seems farther than a computer screen away.
Sebastian Dodson, the supervisor at Jimmy John’s, believes they are a step above all other selections.
“We are the best option because we are the only one’s open after about 12. Pizza Hut closes early so when SMU students are gone we definitely notice,” Dodson said.”We are the best option for sure.”
Jimmy John’s is also appealing to students because they deliver, which Dodson pointed out is usually what most students choose after 11 p.m.
Jimmy John’s, as per every year has noticed a recent uptick in late night deliveries.
“Oh yea definitely, we certainly have noticed an increase in deliveries. The amount of deliveries increases every year,” Dodson said.
Upon being reached for comment, the Pizza Hut store supervisor next door on Hillcrest Avenue declined to answer questions citing corporate policy that they do not discuss demographic information about their store.
Despite declining comment, Pizza Hut is appealing to students on the weekend, as they stay open until 1 a.m.
Pizza Hut also offers a delicious menu and a delivery service that lands Pizza Hut on a lot of student’s speed dial.
Despite numerous SMU students discussing how 7/11 is one of their favorite spots to visit when they are in the library or in the honors dorm halls across the streets, employee Gadshaw, who works the late shift, doesn’t believe the store is as popular as students think.
“We have like one to two students come in for late night food,” Gadshaw said.
Alex Levy, a sophomore who lived in Virginia Snider across the street from the convenience store, disagreed citing a variety of reasons as to how well students and 7/11 employees get along.
“Yeah always a lot of people there. Everyone knew Muhammed by name,” Levy said.
7/11 is open 24 hours, and offers students the opportunity to grab a big bite hot dog, a hot cup of coffee or just a simple bag of chips.
Mohammed Elgendy, sophomore, agrees with Levy and Drummond on the perks of 7/11.
“Yeah sometimes it’s the only thing open that late when I want to get something to eat,” Elgendy said.
Some students prefer a more sophisticated meal order from Jimmy John’s, which also offers prime late night hours.
The final late night possibility is the driving route. As long as someone is willing to make the trip, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers is sure to come up at least once as a suggestion.
Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, commonly referred to as Cane’s, has its upsides and downsides. Students find the chicken delicious, but the drive often deters them from going.
“I like Cane’s, Cane’s is sick, although every time I eat Cane’s I have to eat some fruit,” Tony Rodriguez, junior, said.
These are not even close to covering all of the options that students choose to get on a weekly basis.
Also high on the list of possible destinations include Whataburger, In-N-Out Burger and Sonic Drive-In.
Although there are a lot of dining options on campus, in the last year many students have begun to notice an uptick in dining out.
