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Photo of the Emporium entrance

University of Dayton to open first Amazon-powered Just Walk Out technology store in Ohio

The University of Dayton will have Ohio's first store powered by Amazon's Just Walk Out technology when it reopens a popular campus convenience store as a checkout-free shopping and dining experience.

The Emporium, located in Marianist Hall next to the UD Bookstore, will introduce its new format during a grand-opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. May 1, for UD faculty, staff and students. UD is collaborating with Amazon to use Just Walk Out technology in The Emporium to eliminate checkout lines, giving shoppers a time-saving, touch-free shopping experience.

In addition to being the first location in Ohio, The Emporium will be the second convenience-style location at an institution of higher education and one of the largest third-party stores in the United States at 1,200 square feet to operate with Amazon-powered Just Walk Out technology. UD also is collaborating with CBORD, a technology company specializing in food service and card systems, to give students the opportunity to use their meal plan funds at the store. 

"We listened to students' requests for longer operating hours, especially later in the evenings along with self-checkout options," said Dining Services Executive Director Joan Bauman. "The collaboration with Amazon and CBORD is the perfect solution to providing students a convenient way to grab food, beverages and other products. The ability to use the student's meal plan was a primary reason we pursued this technology."

The partnership with CBORD also will make UD the first college campus to offer Amazon's Just Walk Out technology with a meal plan option.

"I'm delighted to see our collaboration come to fruition, as it's a win-win for campus administrators and students," said Rob DeCarlo, CBORD's interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer. "We are excited to work with the Amazon Web Services team to bring this solution to additional higher education campuses in the coming months." 

The Emporium, which first opened in 2004, offered sandwiches, soups, wraps and other grab-and-go items in a convenience store format before closing last fall for upgrades. The Emporium's reopening at the start of finals week gives UD students the opportunity to experience Amazon's Just Walk Out technology between study periods and exams if they need to grab a snack, meal or beverage.

Shopping at a location powered by Just Walk Out technology is designed to be an effortless experience. Emporium shoppers will be able to enter the store using an app authorized by UD Dining Services. The technology detects what shoppers take from or return to the shelves to create a virtual shopping session. When finished shopping, they're able to leave the store, and their chosen payment method will be charged for their items. 

"We are always looking for ways to make the Just Walk Out shopping experience even more convenient, including offering new ways to pay," said Jon Jenkins, Vice President of Amazon's Just Walk Out technology. "We're proud to collaborate with CBORD and the University of Dayton to launch the first store where students can use their meal plan to pay in a checkout-free environment."

In addition to implementing the Just Walk Out technology, the new Emporium will include made-to-order deli sandwiches during regular business hours, grocery store staples, late-night snacks and other fresh and healthy options. A Fresh Blends smoothie machine, Stok coffee and a Just Baked machine featuring oven-baked goods also will be available, and new dining and lounge spaces outside the store will complete the space.

For interviews, please contact Shannon Miller, associate director of news and communications, at smiller6@udayton.edu.


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