Houston businesses offer college student discounts

David Hensley
The Signal
Most college students struggle to make ends meet. In an effort to help, the Student Government Association recently joined several other colleges as part of the Student Savers Program, which recruits local businesses and provides them with the chance to offer discounts to college students.

In exchange for the discount, the businesses are offered free advertisement opportunities around campus as well as on the program’s Facebook page. The Student Savers Program is also currently constructing a website to provide students and businesses with an easy way to connect. The website will feature links to businesses offering discounts to students.

“The Student Savers Program is not only good for UHCL but it’s good for the 150,000 college students in the Houston metro area,” said SGA president Henry Hodde. “Not every student or campus is involved per se, but it starts to get the word out that there are students here, we matter, and we’re a part of the local economy.”

UHCL’s SGA has enlisted 13 businesses to the Student Savers Program and are continuing to add additional businesses. Students only need to show a valid college ID to receive the benefits provided by the program.

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt, Miller’s Café, Wings and More, and Bay Area Turning Point Resale Shop all offer students a 10 percent discount. The restaurants Which Wich and Bullrito’s also offer a 10 percent discount or $20 off orders totaling more than $100.

The Paint Pub offers a discount of $5 on any paint class and The ME Body offers a 15 percent discount to college students. Creative Photography provides students with a 20 percent discount, while Bubble Island offers 20 percent off with cash purchases and 15 percent off with credit or debit purchases. The Cuisine of India offers a 15 percent discount after 5 p.m. for college students.

Since Denny’s on Bay Area Boulevard and Genghis Grill were already offering student discounts they joined the Student Saver Program as well. Denny’s on Bay Area Boulevard is offering UHCL students with a valid college ID a 20 percent discount.

Students with a valid college ID can also save at Genghis Grill, which offers UHCL students a 10 percent discount on everything except alcohol any day of the week. On Tuesdays, they offer the same 10 percent discount for all college students.

“It’s being a part of the community and we need to be a part of the community as much as possible,” said Lawrence Rawlings, assistant manager at Genghis Grill. “We understand that college students have a limited source of income– not all, but a majority does– and we try to help them out and give them some healthy food options.”

In addition to the Student Savers Program, several restaurants and entertainment venues also offer student discounts.

In March, the Houston Zoo started giving all students at University of Houston System schools one free admission on any day with valid college ID presentation. The Houston Zoo also offers a $2 discount on tickets for Houston Community College System students with an official college ID card.

Students who are interested in fine arts can get a discount at The Bay Area Houston Ballet located on Bay Area Boulevard and The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston. The Bay Area Houston Ballet offers college students discounted tickets. Tickets in section A of the venue are $25, instead of $35 and tickets in section B are $20 instead of $25.

The Museum of Fine Arts offers a $5 discount on the general admission price of $10 for college students. The museum also gives a $4 discount on tickets for main exhibits, which are usually $33.

Students who want to go to the movies can get a discount at Landmark’s River Oaks Theatre and Star Cinema Grill. Landmark’s River Oaks Theatre gives students a $3 discount during the week before 6 p.m. and a $2 discount on admission at all other times when showing a college ID. Star Cinema Grill offers students $1 off admission with a valid college ID.

“College students don’t have a lot of funds and they’re focusing on their studies, degrees and schoolwork, so we offer the discount with a student ID as a favor,” said Frank Sloan, Star Cinema Grill manager.

Restaurants participating in the Student Savers Program

• Genghis Grill – 510 West Bay Area Blvd. Webster, TX 77598- (281) 332-0970
• The Paint Pub – 1840 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058, 281-333-2200
• Tutti Frutti Yogurt – 18015 Saturn Lane, Nassau Bay, TX 77058, 281-333-2012
• Wings and More – 1850 NASA Parkway, Nassau Bay, TX 77058, 832-864-3200
• Denny’s (#8020) – 2735 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX 77058, 281-461-6733
• Cuisine of India – 1212 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX 77058, 281-333-4343
• Creative Photography – 6428 Stewart Road, Galveston, TX 77551, 409-740-3019
• Bubble Island – 2441 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX 77058, 281-488-5788
• Bay Area Turning Point Resale Shop – 18207 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston, TX 77058, 281-957-9910
• The ME Body – 18125 Egret Bay Blvd., Webster, TX 77058, 281-549-6390
• Miller’s Café – 3830 N. Sheppard, Houston. TX 77018, 713-699-2947
  6560 Fannin Suite 110, Houston TX 77030, 713-791-1717
  1001 McKinney B-4, Houston, TX 77002, 713-658-0400
  2403C Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX 77058, 281-461-8998
• Which Wich – 2815 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77027, 713-871-9424
  8401 Westheimer Suite 110, Houston, TX 77063, 713-782-0400
  11805 Westheimer Suite 360, Houston, TX 77077, 281-584-9424
  8505 S. Main St. Suite 150, Houston, TX 77025, 713-665-9424
• Bullrito’s – 2651 Weslayan, Houston, TX 77027, 713-622-5656
  1695 S. Voss, Houston, TX 77057, 713-782-3700

Businesses not participating in the Student Savers Program but still offer discounts

• Star Cinema Grill – 1020 W. NASA Rd. 1 #152, Webster, TX 77598, 281-557-9300
• Landmark’s River Oaks Theatre – 2009 West Gray Street Houston, TX 77019, 713-866-8881
• Houston Zoo – 6200 Herman Park Drive, Houston, TX 77030 713-533-6500
• The Bay Area Houston Ballet – 17170 Mill Forrest Rd., Webster, TX 77598, 281-480-1617
• The Museum of Fine Arts – 1001 Bissonnet, Houston, TX 77005, 713-639-7300