2008 Woodie Awards
Zoom delivers alternative to campus dining
Lea Calderon-Guthe
Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: Local News
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In the past, the arrival of November meant that the chilly air and biting winds would force students into the comfort of their heated rooms, and the eateries in town would become little more than seemingly mythical, distant dreams of scrumptious sandwiches and ethnic food - but no more. Zoom Delivery, self-described as "online ordering, takeout and restaurant delivery to Middlebury" is the latest modification to the town of Middlebury's restaurant scene, and it happily caters to the College campus. Trish Lafayette, owner, manager and driver for Zoom, runs the four-week-old business with the help of two other drivers on busy days.
"I've worked in restaurants a lot of my life, and I pretty much figured out that I wanted to work for myself and own my own business," Lafayette said. "With my restaurant experience and realizing that Middlebury had no good delivery service besides Neil and Otto's, that's where I got the idea. I wanted people to be able to choose different options for food."
Lafayette's idea is new to Middlebury, but most major cities offer non-restaurant-specific food delivery services, and, in fact, several of the restaurants that offer takeout through Zoom signed on with Lafayette because of experience with a similar business in Burlington. Zoom is a product of the modern age, and as such it combines convenience, technology and affordability. Clients can visit Zoom's Web site, input their zip code and order away on complete, clickable menus, or phone in their orders to 802-388-ZOOM. Zoom makes deliveries to the Middlebury and East Middlebury areas at a charge of three dollars, and takes orders for Noonies Deli, Green Peppers, Sama's Café, Taste of India and Top Spice anywhere from five days before a scheduled delivery up to one hour prior to an impromptu delivery. So far, the idea seems to be a hit.
"A lot of people tell me that it's a great idea and they can't wait to use it," Lafayette said. "I haven't gotten any negative feedback about it. Business is increasing by the week. I'm just having fun with it."
"I've worked in restaurants a lot of my life, and I pretty much figured out that I wanted to work for myself and own my own business," Lafayette said. "With my restaurant experience and realizing that Middlebury had no good delivery service besides Neil and Otto's, that's where I got the idea. I wanted people to be able to choose different options for food."
Lafayette's idea is new to Middlebury, but most major cities offer non-restaurant-specific food delivery services, and, in fact, several of the restaurants that offer takeout through Zoom signed on with Lafayette because of experience with a similar business in Burlington. Zoom is a product of the modern age, and as such it combines convenience, technology and affordability. Clients can visit Zoom's Web site, input their zip code and order away on complete, clickable menus, or phone in their orders to 802-388-ZOOM. Zoom makes deliveries to the Middlebury and East Middlebury areas at a charge of three dollars, and takes orders for Noonies Deli, Green Peppers, Sama's Café, Taste of India and Top Spice anywhere from five days before a scheduled delivery up to one hour prior to an impromptu delivery. So far, the idea seems to be a hit.
"A lot of people tell me that it's a great idea and they can't wait to use it," Lafayette said. "I haven't gotten any negative feedback about it. Business is increasing by the week. I'm just having fun with it."
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