This year, as part of its continued efforts to bring University at Albany students to the district, the Central Avenue Business Improvement District has partnered with the University Shuttle program to route its weekly shopping shuttles through district shopping plazas. Shuttles that used to deliver thousands of students each week to Crossgates and Wal-Mart will now drop these students at our district shopping centers including Westgate Plaza, Hannaford Plaza, and ShopRite Plaza.
Each week the University at Albany’s 10 shuttles will make shopping runs to Westgate Plaza, Hannaford Plaza, ShopRite Plaza and Colonie Center so that students can do their grocery shopping and errands. The buses will deliver students on Mondays and Thursdays beginning at 4:30pm and make 30 minute loops between the plazas and campus until 8:30pm. The Central Shopper Shuttle Program began on Sunday August 26, 2012.
To further promote your business to students, we encourage you to purchase ads on the University shuttles. Shuttles serve on and off campus riders. Advertising begins at $100/month, and these high-profile, custom-designed signs can be a great way to draw attention to your business and drive customers to your door. To learn more about this program, contact Rose Anne Dorsman at rdorsman@albany.edu or by phone at (518) 442-3122.
You can also take advantage of the influx of student customers by adding your business to the university's Off Podium program. The Off Podium program allows students to use their SUNYCard to make purchases at your business. Every student has a SUNYCard, and students spend an average of $250 annually with the cards, making purchases at local restaurants, drugstores, laundromats, and other businesses. Central Avenue's own Best Fitness and Salsa Latina take advantage of the program, with positive results. For more information about the Off Podium program, please contact Matthew Bogner at mhb@cbord.com or by phone at (516) 520-8812.
