With the recent opening of Jamba Juice on the A-level of Ackerman, UCLA has brought another independently operated brand-name eatery to campus.

At 3,166 square feet, the UCLA Jamba Juice is the largest venue in the history of the smoothie company and has already generated high sales.

On May 16, Jamba Juice brought in $4,700 in sales, almost twice the amount the former Tropix would have made in a day.

Though most of the services in the Cooperage and on the first floor of Ackerman are owned and operated by the Associated Students UCLA, Jamba Juice is one of the few eateries, along with Panda Express, Rubio’s and Sbarro, that are owned by independent third parties.

Taco Bell, despite its brand name, is not operated by a third party, but is actually run by ASUCLA. The association uses Taco Bell’s logo and procedures, but hires its own employees and handles other logistical aspects, such as the hours of operation.

“In general it is not our strategy to go to third-party operators, but in (the case of Jamba Juice), the only option was to have Jamba operate it,” said ASUCLA Executive Director Bob Williams.

Since there was a high demand for Jamba Juice on campus and it fit well into the overall master food plan that outlines the organization of food options in Ackerman, the board thought it was a good idea to let the company independently operate the eatery – even though they prefer to operate their stores alone, ASUCLA officials said.

“We try to operate as many of our businesses as directly as we can, partly because we want to have the lowest prices. And we have the best control of our prices when we operate on our own,” said Roy Champawat, associate director of ASUCLA Food Services.

“We can also make sure to make the most advantageous employment situations for the students.”

Though it takes more work for ASUCLA to directly operate an eatery or store, Champawat said the association is willing to put in the extra effort in order to return a greater value to the students.

By having control over the operations of its eateries, ASUCLA can set low prices and provide benefits for its student employees.

Plus, ASUCLA does not receive a greater financial return from eateries operated by third parties, Williams said.

The ASUCLA board of directors first began discussing the introduction of Jamba Juice to campus about two years ago, Champawat said.

Since then, the board has been at work negotiating with the company to create the design for the lounge and to begin construction, which started in early March.

“Once things really got underway, after working out the details of the design, everyone was anxious to work as fast as possible,” Champawat said. “Sometimes (the construction team) worked double shifts, daytime and nighttime, for 16 to 18 hours.”

Williams said the association tends to set the trend for many new services brought to college campuses.

This includes being the first university to serve Panda Express and Baskin Robbins to students, paving the way for several other college campuses across the country to follow suit.

Since the UCLA venue is operated by Jamba Juice, the company will pay ASUCLA a percentage of sales instead of paying a flat rent.

Although he would not disclose the percentage, Champawat said that by receiving a commission ASUCLA has a financial interest in the success of Jamba Juice.

“(This system) will put us on the same page and have the same goal, (which is) to satisfy the student body. We’ll both want to get the same outcome,” he said.

Since its opening on May 13, Jamba Juice has already demonstrated its considerable popularity among the campus community.

“Jamba Juice has just opened and it’s brand new, so initially people are anxious to check it out,” Champawat said.

But after the excitement dies down, he predicted the Jamba Juice sales will most likely decrease.

“In the long term, though, we would expect the sales to be overall good, and higher than those at Tropix,” he said.

The line at Jamba Juice has been almost out the door since its opening, and students have already staked out spots on the couches or tables to study, read or chat.

“It’s a good place to study, and very different from the food court,” said Patricia Sun, a third-year biochemistry student. “It’s new, bright and less crowded, and it’s nice to have a Jamba Juice on campus.”