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Bodo's owner explains delays of anticipated Corner location

The Corner location of Bodo's Bagels has been "Coming Soon" for almost five years. Unfortunately for University students, that may not change any time soon.

Bodo's owner Brian Fox offers several reasons for what has caused such frustration within the University community.

"It's very difficult for me to open it on time for personal and professional reasons," Fox said. "I find it's very hard for me to run the other two stores by myself. I'm not Superman."

Many University students are not surprised to hear that Bodo's on the Corner is not opening any time soon.

"I'm not surprised because it hasn't been open since I came to this school and it probably still won't be open when I graduate," fourth-year College student Charlie Armstrong said.

Fox uses a percentage of his profits from the Bodo's stores on Emmet Street and Preston Avenue to maintain the land space for the Corner store. He does not seem to be worried about losing customers if he does not open the Corner location.

Fourth-year College student Ember Farber disagrees with Fox's thinking.

"If [Bodo's] is worrying about keeping their customers ... we'd be a lot happier if we could have bagels on the Corner," Fraber said.

"I know a lot of people have been frustrated. The only thing I can say is I'm doing the best I can," Fox said.

Fox describes himself as a man who wants to be personally involved in every aspect of the new store, and therefore finds it difficult to spend quality time at the Corner location while he also oversees his business at the Emmet and Preston locations.

"I do all of the planning myself, and it takes a lot of work to design things. Between planning, doing, and the inertia aspect it takes a long time to do a project like this," he said.

Fox's unwillingness to seek outside help in renovating the store further prolongs its opening.

"I don't like to hire others because I get really personally involved in a new store," he added.

Fox also attributes the slow opening to recent investments.

"We've invested $60,000 in new store register systems that can be used in all three locations [that] we've had to install," Fox said.

Although these systems will not benefit the Corner store yet, they will help business for the other two Bodo's locations.

"By the time students get back to school we will have a new service system and a new cash register system in which three registers will operate instead of two, so the lines will move faster. The registers are also faster, more versatile and more accurate, which makes for a smoother work flow," he said.

He added that Bodo's is also changing the menu display for efficiency purposes, which detracts more of his attention away from the new location.

"We are also changing our menu-boards into computer-based boards with graphics which will be implemented at all three stores," Fox said.

He said Bodo's will be adding a few new items to their menu in addition to their popular selections.

"We will be adding some new vegetarian items, and another cream cheese flavor," he added.

The new Bodo's will be much smaller than the other two. The Emmet and Preston locations currently seat 80-95 people, and the new location will only seat 52.

Fox started Bodo's Bagels after quitting the restaurant business and moving to Charlottesville.

"I didn't like the fact that the restaurant business was late at night and there was the pressure of a high-end business. I like the demeanor of people in Charlottesville, and I think the bakery makes them more happy," he said.

Fox himself bakes and enjoys the casual atmosphere of Bodo's.

Fox opened the Emmet location 12 years ago and the Preston facility has been operating for six years. Neither took as long to open as the Corner one has thus far.

"I always have a date in my mind, but I don't want to disappoint people so I won't say it. I will finish it, and I hope when I do people will appreciate it," he said.

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