Cradled between the McDonald’s at Canada Boulevard and Towne Street and the restaurants between Verdugo Road and Canada Boulevard, is a new store offering low prices for chips and soda, reviving the existence of the $1 snack.
Orange Stop is a convenience store opened by Glendale students for anyone trying to look for a quick snack at an affordable price.
Opened on Feb. 1, Orange Stop is the only convenience store that is relatively close to campus. Before then, only the cafeteria and school vending machines sold chips, sodas and other snacks.
Harut Minasyan, 19, biology, along with fellow Vaquero sophomores Gevorg Isagulyan, 20, and Narek Negerdich, 19, decided to address the rising prices of snack food on campus and create a store of their own.
“After seeing the location, Harut decided that he wanted to open up a store here,” said Isagulyan, “After a while we all just agreed.”
“As student in GCC, we felt that we needed to have the store,” said Minasyan, “You could feel the need for a store like this.”
“It took us about a month to set up the place,” said Negerdich, “It was empty when we saw it so we needed to work on this place for a while.”
The owners were not the only people who felt the need of an alternative to the vending machines on campus.
“The vending machines are too expensive,” said Bernardo Parado, 18, majoring in fire science, “I wouldn’t waste my money on that.”
“If no other stores were open then maybe I would use the vending machines,” said Juan Aquino, a sophomore. “I actually shop at the new convenience store. What’s it called again, Orange Stop?”
“There aren’t any stores nearby and the high prices of vending machines are too much for students,” said Minasyan, as his co-workers agreed with silent nods.
Isagulyan said the store has student-friendly prices.
As a comparison, a three-ounce bag of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos is $1 at Orange Stop, while the 2-ounce variety of Cheetos at the vending machine in school sells for $1.25.
Sodas at GCC sell for $1.75, while at Orange Stop, a 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi Max sells for $1. Orange Stop also carries other drinks such as Coca-Cola, Cactus Cooler and Arizona Iced Tea.
“You get more here for less than what you get over there for more,” said Isagulyan, “We have full-sized [16 ounce] Arizona cans for $1, and they have 12 ounce cans over there for a $1.25. It’s easy math.”
Other items sold at Orange Stop are Marlboro brand cigarettes for $5 a pack, 12-ounce Monster energy drinks for $1.49 and 8-ounce Red Bull drinks for $1.99. The store also sells candy bars and other candy items at affordable prices.
“Customer service and low prices are our number one priority,” said Negerdich. “If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we’re always open to requests.”
Efforts to spread the word of the new store have been made, but due to its location, Minasyan said the store faces challenges.
“We’re not exactly in a good location, but sales will increase and there will be more familiarity,” said Minasyan, “It’s going to take some time.”
In the future, the owners of the shop are planning to supply more brand name products. Negerdich said that they are planning to brew Starbucks brand coffee, while Minasyan said the shop plans to also sell Krispy Kreme donuts.
Long-term goals for the owners are to own branches of the store and to sell to other schools with the ideal of low prices and good customer service.
“We plan to have branches in local high schools and have employees when we transfer out,” said Isagulyan. “That way kids can shop with lower prices even after we leave.”
Orange Stop is located at 1528 Canada Blvd. Suite 104.
Hours are from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. from Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Business hours are subject to change.