Schwemm’s Transformed into Merchandise Store

Leo Kamin ’25 Managing News Editor

Students returned from winter break to find the Mammoth Market at Schwemm’s transformed. Long a favorite (and often the only) option for late-night dining, Schwemm’s is in the process of being converted into an official college apparel store, while the Science Center Cafe has expanded its hours and offerings to meet the late-night demand.

The late-night service is more limited than that offered by Schwemm’s last semester, closing at 10 p.m. instead of the typical 11 p.m. on school nights, and foregoing late-night service on Friday and Saturday nights entirely. The cafe’s menu has added a select few Schwemm’s “favorites” — chicken tenders, fries, mac-n-cheese bites, burgers, and shakes — which become available after 3 p.m., but the rest of the previous items, including the popular mozzarella sticks, will be unavailable.

The shake-up traces its origins to the closing of downtown Amherst staple AJ Hastings last summer. The store had long served as the go-to place for college gear. The new merch store at Schwemm’s is intended to replace it, according to Joe Flueckiger, executive director of dining services and hospitality services.

“We can’t, as an institution, not have a brick-and-mortar [apparel] solution for guests, students, and alumni,” he said.

The college initially searched for another business in the area that could take over AJ Hastings’ role, but ultimately decided that the new store would have to be on campus. The small clothing section that was set up in Schwemm’s last semester “wasn’t satisfying the overall demand,” Flueckiger said, prompting the plan to replace food service in Schwemm’s with the new store and expand service at the Science Center. Though initially slated to take place during Thanksgiving break, the change was delayed after workers expressed concerns.

After a process that Flueckiger described as “engaging in a larger discussion with all of our campus partners and stake - holders” and “checking all our boxes,” the changes went ahead while students were away on winter break. In addition to the permanent store at Schwemm’s, the college has rolled out an online merch store and plans to open a “mobile retail trailer,” which will be available later this spring.

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Photo courtesy of Erin Williams '26