Student-led survey helps lure new restaurants
Monday, November 17, 2014 2:00 AM
News
Pittsburg, KS
In the fall of 2012, the Pittsburg State MBA Association conducted a survey to find out what stores and restaurants PSU students wanted in Pittsburg. One of the most popular responses was Buffalo Wild Wings.
Fast forward two years.
Buffalo Wild Wings is just days away from opening its doors in north Pittsburg.
“The survey the MBA Association conducted was not the only thing that brought Buffalo Wild Wings here, but it definitely got the ball rolling,” said Blake Benson, president of the Pittsburg Area Chamber of Commerce. “We were able to take the results of that survey to the developer and show the restaurant that it would be very popular here.”
The MBA Association completed a survey of 1,160 PSU students and community members during the fall 2012 semester in an attempt to pinpoint the retail needs and desires of local residents. Sonya Bhakta, PSU graduate who was president of the MBA Association at the time, said the goal was to find out how to “keep local dollars here.”
Bhakta said she’s proud the time and effort that went into the conducting survey paid off for the community.
“It’s wonderful to know that the survey we conducted had a direct, positive impact in Pittsburg,” she said. “Buffalo Wild Wings was definitely popular amongst university students, and now they’re about to have one in their university community. I’m extremely proud of that.”
Other new restaurants such as Rib Crib, also coming soon to north Pittsburg, and the recently opened Gusano’s Pizza are expected to be popular with PSU students. Benson said that’s always the goal when looking at bringing in new stores and restaurants.
“Pittsburg State and its students are very important to our community, and it’s important to us that we offer shopping and dining options that the students will enjoy,” Benson said. “We keep a close ear to what the community is saying, and PSU students are a major part of that.
“If we can bring in restaurants like Gusano’s and Buffalo Wild Wings, places we know students will enjoy and with which they are comfortable, that’s what we’re going to try to do.”