And on this street corner... fast food

Among the many St. Paul Street shops that cater to Hopkins students, the University MiniMart and the Royal Farms convenience store, located on opposite sides of the intersection of 33rd and St. Paul streets, are favorites for college-student staples: ice cream, cigarettes, snacks and, of course, coffee. However, when standing in the middle of 33rd Street, which way should a Hopkins student go in order to attain these necessities?

While both stores are generally comparable, each has a certain taste and style all its own. The University MiniMart, owned by Sam Hamideh, has been around for 10 years. With its deli sandwiches, snack foods, toiletries, and lottery tickets, the "UniMini" offers "a little bit of everything," according to Hamideh. In addition, the UniMini features international foods, and accepts JCards (a convenience in its own right). Hamideh believes students are primarily drawn to the mart's custom-made deli sandwiches and famous milkshakes, although he also credits the convenience and variety offered by the small but jam-packed store.

"Basically, we cover everything," said Hamideh. "[The students] depend on us for variety."

The Royal Farms convenience store, which is part of a Maryland-based chain, stocks all the name-brand snack foods; whether it's Doritos or Cheetos you crave, Royal Farms (affectionately termed "Rofo" by Hopkins students) has it. Manager Malcolm Serio feels it is Rofo's signature fried chicken and deli, however, which really draw Hopkins students.

"They are very in love with the deli," explained Serio.

Another certain draw of Rofo is the fact that it never closes. Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Rofo is the drunk/insomniac student's best friend. Brave Rofo employees who work the night shift are no strangers to frat-party stragglers. Rofo can also boast the cheapest cigarettes in the area.

Simply put, for your name-brand stand-bys, or for late-night coffee and donuts, head over to Rofo. If it's something unusual or homemade you crave, cross the street to the UniMini.

Word has it, however, that Rofo's days are numbered, as the University plans to buy out all buildings on each side of 33rd Street in order to accommodate students with more University housing and a new bookstore. Yet, at least for this year, the battle between Rofo and UniMini rages on