Comments on: UWF Breaks Ground On New Restaurant Development

By: Bailey

Bailey — Wed, 29 Jul 2015 19:12:10 +0000

As an entering freshman I can see the benefits of these businesses coming in. As a bike owner I am looking for jobs I can get to easily while living on campus. There are not enough on campus jobs available to pay off every student’s debt. While it may not be in the fields we are majoring in, these restaurants and retail businesses give us students more opportunities to off set costs without having to work across town.

By: JSCS

JSCS — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 19:18:01 +0000

I thought UWF was supposed to be a college – teaching higher education.

How did it evolve into a retail business? Yes, they have a beautiful campus but how long will it be before we see a nice new hotel there!

Somehow they have lost their original plan and the door is wide open now for retail.

By: JD

JD — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 19:09:24 +0000

I thought this location was supposed to be a Hotel Conference Center?

By: mary

mary — Mon, 07 Apr 2014 16:59:25 +0000

Really? Is this typical of universities in donation situations to build restaurants/retail? Especially if it was earmarked for “wildlife areas? Yes, I have two degrees from UWF and I think this is bizarre. UWF has a beautiful campus and the direction they are going is, in my opinion wierd. Let’s spend more money on academics-not retail. I really don’t think that is an attractive venture in wooing student to this campus. Just an opinion….

By: John Q. Public

John Q. Public — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 20:12:46 +0000

It’s good to see so many commenters understand what’s going on. All these so called public/private commercial ventures stink to high Heaven. The state of Alabama is going into the hotel business on our public beach in Gulf Shores and already has zip lines installed in the park. I would love to see someone follow the money on this stuff and report back to us.

By: joe biden

joe biden — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 19:05:31 +0000

Restaurants and retail, I’ve worked in both. I dont understand how they will attract prospective students to UWF. I went to school to get OUT of minimum wage retail and restaurant jobs…..

but, but…if we raise the minimum wage to 25.00per hour…it will be Camelot…

By: Gembeaux

Gembeaux — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 16:43:31 +0000

@No Excuses: It’s not the area near Baptist Hospital. It’s the other entrance on Davis near the Davis (Hwy 90) and Scenic Highway merge.
And I agree, UWF has lost its way. All these business ventures, with the taxpayers shouldering the risks, have not resulted in any noticeable improvements in tuition costs, curriculum or student benefits.

By: john

john — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 14:21:14 +0000

So, if they can’t repay the money they just get the state to bail them out, because the state of Florida owns UWF.

By: M in Bratt

M in Bratt — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 10:35:11 +0000

Let’s see; Buying Country Clubs, Building shopping center/restaurant developments, Building hotels and other developments that by the way are being financed by a loan co-signed by the little town of Century. I guess UWF has figured out that they can’t produce teachers that can teach our kids, so they will produce a buck or two for the powers to be.

By: BT

BT — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 03:26:39 +0000

Do you start to get the feeling UWF has lost their way? The core business is education, not property development.

Adding the right amenities will enhance the student experience. Paving over the wooded areas to put in strip malls will not. They’re using public resources to chase dollars.