Pizza Machine Brings 24/7 Food to Campus
St. Lawrence University’s newest addition to the Sullivan Student Center is an imposing figure in the bustling pub. It has now become the easiest access to a quick meal. The PizzaForno is a vending machine that boasts fresh hot pizza at your fingertips in less than three minutes. Gone are the days of waiting for your pizza delivery to arrive 20minutes late.
The giant machine is a wonder to most of us. Likewise, many students are skeptical about it. Located opposite Northstar Cafe on the bottom floor of the Student Center, you simply cannot miss it. So, where did it come from? PizzaForno is a relatively new company that has just started booming across North America. SLU is its most recent customer. Online, the estimated cost of these machines is between $125,000-$140,000. The vending machine is very diverse in its options, offering six types of pizza to choose from. This includes BBQ Chicken, Meat Lovers, Cheese, Pepperoni, Vegetarian and Breakfast. Not only that, but the people who prefer frozen pizza will be pleased to know that you can order the pizza frozen to make later. This is unique to the PizzaForno. The pizzas cost anywhere from $9.99 to $12.99, depending on the flavor.
So, what do students on campus think about it so far? Two anonymous first-years said they were skeptical about it but are open to trying it. Other students have praised the pizza. Henry Hagen ‘27, who tried the cheese pizza, said, “It has a fresh flavor to it.” Another student, Jenne Heerkens ‘27, added, “For ten dollars, it is a pretty good bargain.” A Northstar Cafe employee said there will hopefully be future improvements with temperature and being able to pay with student dining dollars. He also complimented the pizzas, mentioning the breakfast one as his favorite.
SLU is the perfect location for PizzaForno because of students with little time between classes, activities and athletics. With its three-minute wait time, it is much easier to grab and go than other campus dining options. This is also a solution to being hungry when Dana Dining Hall and Northstar Cafe are closed. Hopefully, this is the beginning of more fast and available dining options to come. With how simple and efficient it is, it is bound to be booming with students picking up their favorite kind of pizza. So, try it. Or don’t. It’s there 24/7.