The student-run Saxbys cafe at Marist College reported record growth during the fall 2025 semester, achieving its highest weekly revenue and handling approximately 5,500 orders in a single week. This performance places the Marist location among the top-performing cafes in the Saxbys network.
Heather Hallenbeck, Director of Experiential Learning in the School of Management, commented on the significance of these results. “These results reflect exactly what experiential learning is designed to do—give students the opportunity to run a real business with real stakes,” Hallenbeck said. “Our students aren’t simulating success; they’re creating it.”
Under Student CEO Connor Finn ’27, the cafe expanded to seven-day operations, which contributed to increased service consistency and more opportunities for students to gain practical business experience. The 45-member student team manages all aspects of daily operations, from inventory control to customer service.
Operational improvements have also been made, such as maintaining fast service times despite higher order volumes. The introduction of an ‘In a Rush’ menu features items that can be prepared in five minutes or less for those needing quick service between classes.
Hallenbeck highlighted the relevance of skills developed through this experience: “The skills our students are developing—managing complexity under pressure, leading teams, solving problems in real time—these are exactly what employers tell us they’re looking for,” she said. “Our graduates will walk into their first jobs already knowing what it takes to deliver results.”
Looking ahead to spring 2026, Tania Mureb ’26 has been named as the next Student CEO. Mureb is a psychology major who brings nearly seven years of coffee shop experience and has worked at Saxbys since fall 2024.
“I wanted to be a leader that my team can rely on and aim to make my team the best versions of themselves, inside and outside of the cafe,” Mureb said. “What I’m most looking forward to is working alongside my team again. That sense of connection is what makes Saxbys Marist so special to me because we’re a team both inside and outside of the cafe.”
Saxbys remains open every day as a space where members of Marist College gather for study and socializing. Students from any major can apply each semester for roles within various operational areas at Saxbys.
