This semester, 10 students in the Razor’s Edge Shark Cage Program at NSU will have the opportunity to debut their skills as emerging leaders and business owners as they open their own on-campus businesses. They will join other returning student businesses, which will be reopening this fall after closing in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Shark Cage Program gives students the unique opportunity to take a series of specifically designed courses to help them become successful entrepreneurs. Within the program, students also engage in a plethora of networking experiences and even have the chance to start their own on-campus business.
Cheryl Babcock, a faculty member in the department of entrepreneurship and the director and creator of the Razor’s Edge Shark Cage program said, “Hopefully, we’re getting them prepared so that when they leave the university, they’ve already got the groundwork.”
This year the majority of student businesses will be located in the Shark Cage in Mako Hall, with other businesses operating at various locations around campus as well as online.
“I’m just so proud. I call them my kids. They’re my campus kids. Every time a challenge comes along, they rise up and they face it head-on. They’ve had a lot of curveballs thrown at them in the last year with everything that’s happened and I would say they are so excited to open their businesses,” said Babcock.
Lots of preparation has gone into making sure that student businesses can open safely this semester. Capacity limits, increased cleaning and sanitation measures, plexiglass shields and mask requirements will ensure that all customers can support student businesses while keeping themselves and those around them safe.
Continue reading below for more information on two of the student-run businesses coming to Mako Hall’s Shark Cage this week.
Cheeselicious
Angelina Santoro is a junior dual admit law student in the Razor’s Edge Shark Cage Program. She is majoring in psychology and has minors in entrepreneurship, honors transdisciplinary studies, applied behavioral analysis and business. She is also a part of the Farquhar Honors College.
This year, Santoro decided to open her own mac and cheese bar at NSU after she was inspired by a family friend who operates a famous diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her student-run business, Cheeselicious, will hold its grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 8 in the Shark Cage. Complete with homemade mac and cheese and a variety of delectable toppings to choose from, Santoro is sure that her mac and cheese bar is enough to satisfy even the most demanding cheese lover’s cravings.
“Come hungry and come early because my mac and cheese sells out. It’s delicious. And it’s a homemade recipe taken straight from a famous diner in New York,” she said.
You can find Cheeselicious in the Shark Cage in Mako Hall Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11a.m.-3 p.m. You can also connect via Instagram at @cheeselicioussss, on her website or on Yelp.
Vine and Branch Co.
Charissa Bacon is a senior marketing major with an entrepreneurship minor. She is also in the Razor’s Edge Shark Cage Program.
“The Shark Cage business that I decided to run for my on-campus business this year is called Vine and Branch Co. It’s a planner notebook business tailored for students and people who want to prioritize goal setting. It’s meant to benefit anyone who has a busy schedule and wants to prioritize organization. It’s to help people reach their goals, be productive and be intentional about their day,” said Bacon.
Students can find Vine and Branch Co. in the Shark Cage at Mako Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 12 p.m. – 3:30 p.m., with the grand opening on Tuesday, Sept. 8. To browse planners, visit her shoppable Instagram @vineandbranch_co and NSU Marketplace Shop.
Read more about Vine and Branch Co. here.
Also, be sure to check out the rest of the student-run business grand opening.
Sept. 8 Shark Cage Mako Hall
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Sweet Tooth
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Cheeselicious
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., CrochetSwim
Noon – 3:30 p.m., Vine & Branch Co.
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m., Sharky Art
4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., Lotsa Tacos
