SARA TRUEDSON
Contributor
What’s worse? Ralph’s market is now closing at 1a.m. instead of being open 24 hours, or that the change seems to really affect my life. Ralph’s is not just the neighborhood grocery store for Pepperdine students, — it’s so much more. With the Waves Café closing at 8 p.m. and the Oasis closing at 10, there are not many options for a late-night snack. While the perpetual specter of Jack in the Box looms in the distance, I’d like to think I have an opportunity to purchase a food item that is healthy to some degree.
While talk of the lack of proper late-night dining (or munching) options in Malibu may be saved for another article, it is important to note that the new closing time at Ralph’s has not been given the attention it deserves. While it may seem that there isn’t a difference between closing at 1 a.m. instead of being open 24 hours, the effect can be more than strenuous to the average student psyche.
A common assumption among students is that the new hours, which took effect in January and slowly spread through the school community, signify a new era in on-campus living. For those students who spend long hours of the night studying or wasting time, the outlet for a late-night snack run has been barricaded. This crisis hasn’t been much kinder to the Ralph’s employees, some of whom might have to find more work at CVS pharmacy or other store options to double up their hours.
The closing of Ralph’s in the overnight hours strikes as a blow to these employees as well as the munching subculture — those who like to browse the doughnut aisles at 2 a.m. to indulge in some late-night delights. It can be surmised that Ralph’s wasn’t just a place to pick up a snack but was perhaps a social meeting place.
As said by freshman Nandor Kiss, “I liked the element of surprise when going to Ralph’s late. You never know who you are going to see.” While many would scratch their heads at the idea of Ralph’s being a social meeting place, a vocal minority will be missing the by-gone days.
Junior Ryan Albanese quipped, “I’m devastated. Ralph’s is the staple choice.”
Perhaps the decision to close between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. was due to a lack of revenue during those hours, as some theories have surmised.
As Pepperdine students trickle back from late-night excursions, a steady stream of cars heads to Ralph’s to cap off each night. So, why the closing of Ralph’s then? As the official purveyor of the Ralph’s conspiracy theory we believe that Pepperdine has it in for Ralph’s. The Waves Café is making a push to become the sole distributor of food to Pepperdine students. The rumblings of a scandal are already in the making.
Junior Kate Beauchamp feels that “something different is in the air.” Pepperdine may finally be clinching its authoritarian fist. First Ralph’s, then what? We have slowly seen the expansion of the food lines in the caf, then the video screens that decorate the campus. Soon we may see propaganda about the demise of Ralph’s glow on these expensive LCDs.
While I may be getting out of hand as to the extent of the conspiracy surrounding the brewing Ralph’s scandal, the effect on Pepperdine students is real and far-reaching. Whether or not we frequent Ralph’s often, or just occasionally stop in to pick up a deli sandwich, these hours will affect our Ralph’s experience. Some employees will be laid off and others may have to work longer hours. I think we can all agree that a disgruntled Ralph’s employee is the last thing we want to see when a hunger pang strikes.
Although the urge to feel depressed and lash out by purchasing multiple items of junk food at the HAWC has crossed many of those in the munching subculture’s mind, there is still hope. Maybe the demise of Ralph’s will lead to longer hours for the celebrity’s organic food store PC Greens or even CVS, which would provide medicine needed in the middle of the night. There is a reason for everything, after all.
So next time you visit Ralph’s give an extra smile to that employee who may be working longer hours as an affirmation of your principles. For those of you who haven’t already found the magic in the Ralph’s experience, those days will live on in the memories of the munchers, the bingers and the believers.
04-03-2008