College students are no stranger to a lack of sleep. If you find yourself having experienced a restless night of tossing and turning, stayed up too late studying (or doom-scrolling), or are feeling like you’re running on E when the day has just begun, there’s a solution right around the corner. You can find a quick pick-me-up from 7AM-7PM Monday through Thursday (7AM-2PM Fridays) at Saxbys; located at a central spot in the Northeast Philadelphia campus, by the entrance of the Education and Technology Center. 

I was very fortunate to sit down with the CEO of the Holy Family Saxbys location; Emma Frankenberger, and gain insights into her position, her plans for post-graduation, and the future of Saxbys on campus. Emma is a psychology major and will be graduating this semester, Fall of 2024. 

Student CEO Spotlight: Emma Frankenberger

Zeb:  What prompted your decision to join as student CEO?

Emma: I was looking to do an internship this semester so I could graduate early. The internship people kept reaching out to me. The recruiters came into our junior seminar class, and they also harassed me [laughs]. I was like, okay, I’ll give it a shot, and when I was applying, everyone was super, super nice. I want to open my own practice someday, so running a business felt like it aligned.

Zeb: That’s very relevant to another question I had for you: what lessons have you learned as CEO which you might apply to your future career?

Emma: I want to be a clinical psychologist, which would lead to me opening my own practice. So obviously a lot of marketing would come into play there, and we do a lot of our own marketing here. Also, the aspect of how to run a business, but also because we’re a hospitality business, it’s really good to understand how to talk to not only guests but also our own team members, practicing those hard conversations we have but also giving them praise when they deserve it. 

Zeb: How do you want to leave your mark as CEO of this location? 

Emma: I think I just want to make it easier for everyone. It’s supposed to be a place that you enjoy, stress-free and easy-going.

Zeb: Absolutely, student employees already have a lot on their plates, so making the employment part something that’s worse for them. 

Have any of your courses so far in psychology or in general help you learn about interpersonal relationships to help you with this role.

Emma: Every single psych class I’ve taken. But also, I think my philosophy class is one that set me up the best. It was Intro to Philosophy. A lot of it was understanding the different ideas that people have, and I feel like that class taught me that it’s okay to disagree with people and still be able to have that understanding and connection with them. I feel like in general it made me better at communicating with people. 

Me: What do you perceive as Saxbys’ coffee competition, and what sets Saxbys apart from them?

Emma: We only have one another café [on campus], which is the dining hall, and it’s just more convenient [at Saxbys] for people since its right near the dorms. We’re the only place that has coffee, and, you know, people need coffee in the morning [laughs]. I think in general it’s just a warmer atmosphere then going into a dining hall with 8000 other people, and everyone is rushed, and no one is talking to you. 

As any college student is bound to know, sleep can be a hard commodity to come by when balancing a busy schedule of school, work and other responsibilities. According to a recent study, over a quarter of college students experience genuine insomnia, and even more encounter trouble sleeping. The number of those experiencing other sleep issues, as well as a lack of sleep due to leading busy lifestyles, is surely higher. 

A lack of sleep can lead to you feeling groggy the next day, affecting your mental faculties, leading to lower performance in all aspects of your life, academically and physically. Sleep deprivation can lead to poorer grades, unsafe driving conditions, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Zeb: I really enjoy the Vanilla bean cold brew; I’ve had it multiple times and it’s always been great. What are your favorite menu items? 

Emma: I really like the Vanilla bean cold brew as well, and the bacon grilled cheese is good too. 

Zeb: Thanks so much for taking the time to sit and talk with me, Emma.

Student Customers Share Their Saxbys Story

After my conversation with Emma, I sat down with some students to ask about their experiences at Saxbys. Both Carolina, an English major graduating in 2027, as well as Gwen, an English major graduating in 2027, gave their honest experiences with Saxbys, highlighting both strong points and room for improvement. 

When asked what their favorite menu items were, a clear winner stood out — the grilled cheese. Both students agreed that service at Saxbys was overall a positive experience, though, “It … took me a while to get my food,” according to Gwen. Long lines are no doubt due to the high quality of the food and beverages available. Saxbys appeal, according to the student customers, is that it is a much more convenient and inviting environment than the Campus Center dining hall, with Carolina stating, “It was very convenient since it’s here [in the ETC].” Gwen felt similarly about the vibe of Saxbys, telling me: “I just really wanted to try something new, and it looked like a fun place on campus.”  More items were needed, however, as both customers desired more drink options, including Starbucks-like drinks, frappes, and smoothies.

With its first locations opening just under two decades ago, Saxbys is unique compared to its competitors in the field of quick-serve breakfast and coffee restaurants, as it has honed in on opening locations on college campuses. Several schools in the Philadelphia area have opened Saxbys locations in the past decade, including Temple, Drexel, Community College of Philadelphia, and Saint Joe’s — with more to come.

Holy Family has recently joined the Saxbys family in order to provide students an opportunity to find a new source of employment on campus, serve the campus community, and gain experience through what Saxbys calls its Experiential Learning Program. This program culminates in the leadership of the Student CEO of each Saxbys location.

Menu items from the Hall of Greats, included in the coupon offer described below!

(Source: https://www.holyfamily.edu/saxbys)

Even if you’re in a rush, you can always order ahead on the app! The Saxbys app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for your mobile devices. The Hall of Greats includes customer favorites such as the breakfast burrito, vanilla bean cold brew (try it with oat milk – personal favorite), buffalo chicken grilled cheese, strawberry rush energy drink, and French toast muffin.

So there you have it, behind the counter with Saxbys student CEO Emma Frankenberger, as well as some insights from Saxbys student customers. Holy Family is lucky to have the opportunity to have great food and drinks served on our campus by our peers, with a knowledgeable and effective CEO in Emma Frankenberger. 

Zeb is a Junior Secondary Education English major. He graduated from Bucks County Community College with an Associate’s Degree in Secondary Education History. He enjoys listening to and making music, hanging out with his four cats, spending time in nature, and weightlifting.