It’s noon and students are heading toward food establishments to feed their stomachs. However, as college students, saving a buck or two is always kept in mind.

And for students who stay on campus to get their snack fix, they would notice that prices on campus establishments may vary and the reason why is because some of these places are not owned by EC itself.

Cafe Camino, located by the Humanities Building, is a completely different establishment compared to the EC Bookstore that is owned by the college.

The company originally based out of Pasadena City College has branched out to EC Campus.

“About 6 years ago, EC invited various companies to compete in a process of elimination proposal to be chosen to be the school café vendors,” Andrew Nasatir, assistant director of EC bookstore said.

All four cafes on campus that include, Café Camino, The Common Ground, The Manhattan, and The Campus Deli are all owned by a company called Campus Food Services, Nasatir said.

Though the Campus Food Services Company is owned separately, the revenue of the Bookstore is not damaged by the campus cafes.

“It shouldn’t hurt El Camino revenue because they have to pay El Camino to be here,” Nasatir said.

The food that the Bookstore offers is different from the campus cafes.

“There target audience or target product are prepared foods[cafes] the Bookstore business is what’s known as closed container food,” Nasatir said.

While Campus Food Services stay open all semester long selling food, the Bookstore extends it services all year long selling items besides books.

“Once we get through the busy part of spring, summer, fall, and winter, what we try to do is offer other services that the students might need throughout the year once they have their books. That would be snacks, test materials, art supplies, and non-textbook material,” Nasatir said.

As a result of the Bookstore being owned by EC,  they primarily hire EC students to work there, Nasatir said.

Between all the options to buy food and snacks on campus some students like Jacob McBride, 19, undecided major, prefers to go wherever it is not crowded.

“Whichever line is the shortest is how I choose where to get my food,” McBride said.

Other students like Mikiyo Pullins, 20, English major, like to frequent at certain cafes for their food.

“I like coming to the Manhattan because the pizza here is always fresh,” Pullins said.

There was no comment given by Campus Food Services when asked about the details of their establishment.