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Several off-campus eateries around Marshall Street and within the city of Syracuse have begun accepting ‘CUSE Cash — Syracuse University’s cash account program for faculty, staff and students — this fall semester.

Businesses currently involved in the policy include Mist Tea Cafe, Five Guys and Purple Banana on South Crouse Avenue, as well as Poke Fish on Marshall Street. The Cracked Bean Roastery and Bistro 1926, located inside the Palace Theatre, and Bistro 1926 at Drumlins Country Club, are also accepting ‘CUSE Cash.

Many business owners who opted into the partnership said they are optimistic about the new policy and hope it will attract more SU student business, increase visibility and establish connections with the university.

Cracked Bean Roastery owner Michelle Cruz said that, while her business is farther off-campus than some of the others that opted into ‘CUSE Cash, she is excited about the new policy. She said the decision has the potential to bring SU students into the broader Syracuse community.

“We have great niche places that students can access and go and visit that are owner-operated, and kind of really connect with the community at a bigger level,” Cruz said. “It’s not just a college, university experience for them … they’re more part of the community.”

Cruz, an SU alumna, said she immediately reached out to the university when she first found out about the ‘CUSE Cash partnership opportunity over the summer.

SU’s Housing, Meal Plan, and ID Card Services added off-campus ‘CUSE Cash options to offer local merchants the opportunity to get more business from the university community, according to its website. It also touts to prospective participants that the partnership increases foot traffic and eases transactions.

Purple Banana, an acai bowl shop that now accepts ‘CUSE Cash, first opened its doors in 2022. Since its opening, students have often asked if they could use ‘CUSE Cash there, Purple Banana owner Luke Nicolette said.

Nicolette said he hopes SU’s new policy will help his shop foster a business relationship with the neighboring university.

Flynn Ledoux | Illustration Editor

“Working well with Syracuse University is a top priority for us … the majority of our customers are their students,” Nicolette said. “We share quite a bit together, and so just working well with them, being supportive of them, them being supportive of us, means everything.”

Previously, only on-campus merchants accepted ‘CUSE Cash — including SU dining halls, cafes, vending machines, convenience stores, JMA Wireless Dome concession stands and the on-campus eateries in Schine Student Center and Goldstein Student Center. CUSE ‘Cash users now receive a 10% discount applied to all purchases at these locations, though this deal does not apply to off-campus businesses.

Shaokai Li, owner of Poke Fish, said that while the program has been successful in increasing foot traffic, he is also concerned about its convenience for customers. He said he wants the university to better inform students on how the program works and provide more hands-free transaction options, such as the QR code scanners that on-campus facilities currently use for dining dollars.

“A lot of new customers are here because they found out that they could use ‘CUSE Cash,” Li said. “The school didn’t let students know how they’re supposed to use (it).”

‘CUSE Cash accounts are open to SU faculty, staff and students. The balances carry over from the fall to the spring semester, unlike dining dollars, and leftover balances will be credited back to students’ Bursar accounts after the end of the academic year, according to SU’s Housing, Meal Plan and ID Card Services website.

While six off-campus locations currently accept ‘CUSE Cash, SU plans to add more participants throughout the year, according to a Tuesday press release from the university.

Published on September 11, 2024 at 10:16 pm

Contact Kate: kjacks19@syr.edu