Campus Creamery’s New Owners Navigate Business in Real-Time
Andi Jacobs | Contributing Writer
October 14, 2026
Student Life
The blasting music summons students from near and far. Even at 1 a.m., students line up for a WashU McFlurry at Campus Creamery, a South 40 favorite and classic midnight snack for underclassmen. Three sophomores—Jei Han Hall, James Rukin, and Cooper Hazday—took over this well-loved ice cream shop last January as first-years.
This year, they continue to own and operate the store, excited to grow the business with numerous new ideas.
“As a freshman, you’re looking for a ‘thing,’” Hazday said. “I remember Harrison [the previous owner] emailed a lot of people, and I regretted not acting upon that first opportunity. But then, maybe a month later he emailed again, and I was so happy.”
As first-year roommates, Rukin and Hall frequented Campus Creamery so often in their first semester that they became acquainted with many of the employees. In September, the owner approached them about buying the store, but they declined. However, he reached out again in November with a lower price, and they decided to purchase it. The Creamery closed temporarily in January for the transition and reopened under new leadership in February.
“Being able to see and meet new people has really been fun,” Hall said. “It’s a place where people come to hang out and enjoy themselves, sit down, and have a conversation.”
Yet, owning a business for the first time has presented a steep learning curve. There are unforeseen aspects to navigating. This semester, they've learned to communicate with government institutions, work with vendors, contact plumbers and mechanics when needed, and more—all while managing their academics.
“Sometimes, we spend so much of our time, money, and thought into a certain idea and we lose money on it,” Rukin said. “The hardest part is failing when you work so hard and when you’ve put your actual money into it.”
Particularly challenging has been managing a staff of students, some even older than them.
“Learning how to be a person that people respect and want to listen to and talk to has been super important, and it’s taught me a lot about what it means to be a leader,” Rukin said.
When they first took over, the trio had big ideas for transforming the Creamery, but...