Learning to Thrive at the Big Red Store?

 The demolition of The Jigger in 2022 has given a sense of loss to the majority of Lawrentians. For many years, this iconic store has served as a hub for all student necessities, supplying school merch, snacks, basic necessities, and more. However, with the loss of the Irwin Dining Center, the new Big Red Store raises the question: Has The Big Red Store filled the absence of The Jigger completely, and how well it is serving the needs of Lawrentians? In the search to answer this question, many Lawrentians will explain what they miss most about The Jigger, and share their thoughts about the brand new Big Red Store.

This year’s new students experienced life in Irwin for a fairly short time—only through Fall Term—but still reminisce about The Jigger. Current II Former, Leo Soffer ’26, visits The Big Red Store every few days. As a regular customer, Soffer shares that while he still enjoys “candy and chips at the Big Red Store like [he] did at the Jigger,” he misses the Jigger’s “wider selection of snacks, like Doritos.” Soffer comments that although The Big Red Store has similar offerings to students, he believes “students miss being able to grab some snacks before or after lunch,” adding that “The Big Red Store is just too far away to go there consistently like [The] Jigger.” Soffer misses “being able to get good snacks on a regular basis without having to walk all the way to the golf shack.” 

Another new Lawrentian, Henry Tsai ’26, reflects on how he and his friends “stopped by The Jigger on the way back from lunch” considering it a “convenient location at the entrance of Irwin.”. After the demolition of Irwin, Tsai had visited The Big Red Store a few times, but not nearly as often as he did The Jigger in the  fall. Tsai’s decline in shop visits can be blamed on the store’s distance from select houses, as the store is now “much farther from The Bowl and out of [his] way than it was before.” In the past, students used to walk out of lunch in Irwin and grab refreshments from The Jigger, but now, Tsai and many others “miss the small happiness of getting snacks” with his friends. As a II Former, Tsai considers this only a “negative thing for [him],” noting that “the majority of our school’s student body lives in the Circle and Crescent, so the new location is probably more optimal.” Despite the distance of The Big Red Store from the main campus, students agree that the availability of the offerings itself remains almost the same. 

Moreover, even though The Big Red Store now bases far away from academic buildings like The Jigger once did, the store is actually closer to the Circle and some Crescent Houses. When students need school materials right before class, or are starving in their rooms after sports, The Big Red Store is right outside the doorstep of Circle Houses with easier accessibility, though at the expense of the convenience of II and V Formers.

Returning student Samuel Huh ‘23 had spent two of his three Lawrenceville years with the original school store. Huh relates to the fact that the Big Red Store is “out of sight” and therefore, “out of mind.” Since Huh doesn’t walk past The Big Red Store often, he doesn’t find the store “unless [he] absolutely needs something.” However, Huh remarks how the store is “closer to The Circle and makes it better for all upperclassmen,” although it might be “inconvenient for everyone else.” As a benefit for all, Huh pointed out that The Big Red Store is now “next to the new outdoor courts and facilities,” where he presumes, “people will need it the most.”

While several students have noted that the Big Red Store still has a variety of snacks and drinks, some miss the wider availability of items at The Jigger. Regarding the location of The Big Red Store, many students prefer the location of The Jigger back in Irwin as it was more accessible with its close proximity to academic buildings and main campus. The demolition of The Jigger may have caused students to miss the brand and items that were once available, as well as its familiar environment. Lawrentians appreciate the Big Red Store's new offerings and are open to new experiences and items at the Big Red Store—ultimately making the store a success.