1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

1972: RECORD CO-OP

The first service founded by The Corp, Diemusbiederplatz, was a record co-op that operated out of Healy Basement. Though very popular, the service struggled under the toll of frequent thefts. In 1975, the service was merged with the Vital Vittles grocery store and the combined service was renamed “Audio Vittles” after a campus-wide naming contest. The new store name would not stick around for long, but record sales continued to draw customers. In 1979, all record sales would be taken over by The Corp’s new convenience service, Saxa Sundries.

1973: Corp Travel

The travel bureau of The Corp was first established in 1973 and operated as a low-cost travel agency. Corp Travel was able to offer competitive prices because unlike most full-service travel agencies, the students did not work on a commission model for ticket sales. One of the most popular services Corp Travel offered were its spring break tickets and packages. Students booked trips to locations in Mexico, Jamaica, and the Bahamas, among many others! With the advent of online travel platforms, Corp Travel closed in 2000.

1979: SAXA SUNDRIES

Saxa Sundries opened in 1979, providing standard drugstore items to students like records, cigarettes, candy, and personal hygiene products. At the time of its opening, Sundries was located in the basement of Copley Hall. In an effort to draw more foot traffic, the service relocated in November of 1982 to the more frequented basement of Healy Hall. In 1989, Saxa Sundries merged with Vital Vittles to help reduce costs.

1985: The Cone Zone

The Cone Zone, opened in 1985, was the first and only ice-cream parlor to be operated by The Students of Georgetown, Inc. Located above Wisemiller’s Deli at 1236 36th St NW, the store was named through a campus-wide “Name the Store Contest.” The winning name for the short-lived establishment was entered in by Stephen Baird, who received a free sundae every day for a month! Though well-liked by the student community, the store struggled financially. The ice-cream store was constricted by serving a customer base that was largely present during the colder months of the academic year, holding it back from garnering summer revenue, and its location failed to draw much foot-traffic. By the end of 1986, The Corp’s leadership decided to close The Cone Zone.

1989: Movie Mayhem

After Saxa Sundries moved from Healy Basement to the Leavey Center in 1988, there was growing demand for the store’s movie rental service. It proved so popular that The Corp decided to open a separate storefront, Movie Mayhem. Founded in 1989, Mayhem operated out of the Leavey Center for 16 years before moving to an online rental platform, MovieMayhem.org, in 2005. The service had thousands of VHS and DVDs that students could browse and rent. The website was shuttered in December 2007 due to competition from large online movie vendors like iTunes and Netflix, and lack of student demand for a campus-based DVD delivery service.

1994: Uncommon Grounds Opens

In 1994, Uncommon Grounds opened its doors to the public. The first of its kind, UG was the original coffee service to open under The Corp brand. The first UG was located on the main level of the Leavey Center, and The Corp was contracted by the University to sell food and beverages. At the time, the store was a partnership between the Office of Student Affairs and The Students of Georgetown, Inc. In 2017, the storefront relocated to its current home on the second floor of the bookstore in front of the Leavey Esplanade.

1999: MorE Uncommon Grounds Opens

MUG was opened in 1999 in the ICC Galleria of the Georgetown University Intercultural Center. It began as a mobile coffee cart extension of Uncommon Grounds but quickly established itself as a full coffee service separate from other Corp storefronts. MUG prides itself as central to the ICC community and has operated an annual study abroad scholarship in tribute to its location at the homebase of the School of Foreign Service.

2000: Full Exposure

Full Exposure (or FX), was a film developing service based in Georgetown University's Leavey Center and was part of a wave of “startups” during the late 90s and early 2000s. In 2000, The Corp's Board of Directors acquired a $104,055 loan to purchase equipment for the opening of the new business. Throughout its existence, the business was plagued by competition with rapidly-improving digital photography technology. By the 2004, expenditures for FX rose to a total of $89,010, but increased digital camera usage by students hurt the business's revenues, rendering the service obsolete only five years later.

2003: Hoya Snaxa opens

After the building of the Southwest Quadrangle, The Corp was contracted by the University to open a convenience shop at its center. The Corp held a contest to name its new store, which is a pun on the University’s shorts cheer “Hoya Saxa”. Its home in the Southwest Quad has helped to serve a much wider range of students, including sophomores in the dorms above as well as athletes on their way to and from practices and games.

2003: Midnight MUG Opens

In 2002, Lauinger Library brainstorms ways to utilize a free space on the second floor. Historically a smoking room, the library aimed to elevate the student experience. A vision of a “Community Room” forms, and Lau reaches out to The Corp for help. Lauinger and The Corp came to an agreement on a new coffee shop, opening in the Spring of 2003. Midnight served as a new hub for Office Hours, where faculty and students can meet over discounted menu items, a tradition still core to the service.

2004: Turkey and Bunny Shuttles

The Turkey Shuttles were established in 2004 as an alternative way to transport Georgetown Students to and from the regional airports for Thanksgiving break. Serving Reagan, Dulles, and BWI, the Turkey Shuttles saved Georgetown students high cab fares as The Corp’s employees would take turns driving shifts in rented vans. In 2006, The Turkey shuttles eventually expanded to provide services during the Easter break as well in vans called Bunny Shuttles. These two shuttle services were the antecedent to Georgetown’s university-run bus service, now known as the Georgetown University Transportation Service (GUTS) in 2011.

2004: Corp IT opens

In recognition of the growing need to integrate more technology into its services, the Corp established the Information Technology department in the spring of 2004. The IT Department worked hard to develop new initiatives to help the Corp better serve the campus community. These include building programs like New Access, The Corp’s internal employee management system, as well as streamlining each service’s inventory data through Shopventory. Corp IT also built and operates Classy, a class registration service widely used by the Georgetown community.

2005: Philanthropy

As part of its mission of “Students Serving Students”, The Corp gives back to the Georgetown community through a wide variety of scholarships and grants. In 2005, the Corp Philanthropy Committee (CPC) was established to help oversee the disbursal of these funds. The CPC raises money through corporate partnerships and an annual winter Gala held for students in DC. Over $50,000 are distributed annually and recent scholarships have targeted academic book purchases, study abroad, food insecurity, mental health resources, and covering unexpected for students affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

2005: Corp Catering Opens

The Corp’s first catering service was initially founded in 2005 as ‘Uncommon Catering,’ working out of Uncommon Grounds. Corp Catering branched off from UG and was formally founded as a separate service in 2011. Today, Catering has its own dedicated space and delivers coffee and food to a variety of campus-wide events including New Student Orientation and Bagels with the MSB Deans. 

2012: Corp Hr/pops

Corp HR’s management team consisted of two assistant directors, and two other members: one focused on professional development, and another on Alumni relations. In 2016, Corp HR was renamed the People Operations Department, affectionately known as POps. The department’s projects expanded beyond professional development and alumni relations and began focusing on employee experience, hiring, accountability, and other internal company policies. 

2014: The Hilltoss Opens

In 2014, The Corp debuted The Hilltoss at the Georgetown University Farmers Market. The company decided to launch this endeavor as a response to students’ demands for healthier options on campus. Due to its success, The Hilltoss was later able to open a proper storefront in the Healey Family Student Center. Following in the spirit of responding to students’ needs, The Hilltoss swapped acai bowls for avocado toast. Because 88% of the student body had asked the company for another coffee service, The Corp launched Grounded, an internal café that now makes up a part of the larger Hilltoss. Today, Grounded serves coffees and teas, customizable avocado toast, bagel sandwiches, and more.

Today: 50 years strong

This year, the Corp is celebrating 50 years of Students Serving Students. Please join us over the weekend of February 18th-19th, 2022 to celebrate the Corp’s 50th anniversary! Corp alumni are invited back to celebrate the history of The Corp and socialize with current employees and other alumni from the past 50 years. Weekend events will include a celebration in Riggs Library, service events, an exhibit of 50 years of Corp artifacts and photos, and other engaging activities. The weekend will wrap up with Corp 50 Celebration - a cocktail-style gala at The Smithsonian Museum of American Art on the evening of Saturday, February 19th.