EDWARDSVILLE – Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Dining Services and the Morris University Center/Student Success Center announces the grand opening of Chimega Mart, a cutting-edge, cashierless convenience store located on the second floor of the Student Success Center. Chimega Mart is the newest addition to the Student Success Center and represents an innovative step forward in campus dining and retail convenience.
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Powered by Amazon Just Walk Out Technology, Chimega Mart allows students, employees and guests to grab food, drinks, and everyday essentials and simply walk out—no checkout lines required. Using a combination of sensors, cameras, and AI technology, the store automatically detects the items guests select and charges them digitally after they exit.
In response to students' requests for longer hours for food on campus, Chimega Mart is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to midnight, matching the hours of the Student Success Center. Guests can enter the store by swiping in with the GET App, which is connected to their SIUE Cougar Card. Visitors may also enter by using a credit card.
“Chimega Mart offers a fast, seamless shopping experience designed to support student success and campus life,” said Kelly Jo Hendricks, Director of the Morris University Center/Student Success Center. “This technology-driven store provides flexibility and convenience for students, faculty, staff and visitors.”
Grand Opening Celebration
SIUE invites the campus and community to celebrate the official grand opening of Chimega Mart.
Location: 2nd Floor, SIUE Student Success Center
Date: Monday, Feb. 9, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Event: Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
The celebration will include free reusable shopping bags for the first 200 customers, along with refreshments for attendees.
A Name Rooted in SIUE History
The name Chimega honors a special piece of SIUE history. Chimega was the first live cougar on campus, arriving in 1968. She was cared for and trained by student handlers and volunteers known as the Cougar Guard. In tribute to her legacy, guests will find historic photos and displays of Chimega featured throughout the store, connecting SIUE’s past with its future.
Chimega Mart blends innovation, convenience and Cougar pride—creating a unique retail experience designed with today’s campus community in mind.
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville provides students with a high-quality education that powerfully transforms the lives of all individuals who seek something greater. A premier metropolitan university, SIUE is creating social and economic mobility for individuals while also powering the workforce of the future. Built on the foundation of a broad-based liberal education, and enhanced by hands-on research and real-world experiences, the academic preparation SIUE students receive equips them to thrive in the global marketplace and make our communities better places to live. Home to a diverse student body, SIUE is situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River’s rich bottomland and only a short drive from downtown St. Louis.
