New kosher stand draws attention at UMD vs. Georgetown basketball game

Xfinity Center’s concourse level now features a kosher food stand.

Testudo’s Kosher Korner, the University of Maryland’s first kosher stand at a sports venue, raised $2,500 at the Terrapins men’s basketball game against Georgetown University at Xfinity Center on Nov. 17, Dining Services spokesman Bart Hipple said.  

While the stand did not keep track of how many patrons it served, Rabbi Eli Backman of UMD Chabad — which partnered with Dining Services to run the stand — said he noticed an influx of patrons throughout the game.

“The question of the night was, ‘Where is the kosher stand?’” Backman said. “We received nothing but great feedback.”

Because kosher ingredients are more costly than non-kosher ones, prices at the stand are set slightly higher than usual, Hipple said. Corned beef, roast turkey and pastrami sandwiches at Testudo’s Kosher Korner are $12, while a cheeseburger and fries at a typical concessions stand costs $9, he said.

“We don’t have [corned beef] anywhere else,” Hipple said. “The most exciting part for us is that this is a different type of food than we’ve ever served before.” 

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The stand will be open for all men’s Big Ten Conference games throughout the season that do not occur during Sabbath, which begins sundown Friday and ends at sundown Saturday, Hipple said. Testudo’s Kosher Korner will also be open for the Bowie State game in February, he said.

Although many fans might hope for a similar type of stand in Byrd Stadium, Hipple said it would not be possible because football games take place on Saturdays, the Jewish day of rest.

Joseph Schwartz, a senior marketing and supply chain management major, said it was extremely important to everyone working the stand that they leave fans with a strong first impression.

“People would come up to the stand screaming, ‘We finally found it!’” Schwartz said. “It was definitely a prime destination for people at the game.” 

In order to keep the stand completely kosher, it is protected by two locks — Backman has one key and Dining Services has the other, Backman said. The stand cannot be accessed unless both parties are present.

Additionally, all ingredients are unboxed and thoroughly inspected by Backman before chefs handle and serve food, Hipple said. 

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“We order it, we receive it, and we leave it sealed in its original boxes,” Hipple said. “The whole process has to be overseen.” 

Dining Services has traditionally allowed nonprofit student groups to come in and run concessions, Hipple said. But the partnership with UMD Chabad is what made a kosher stand possible.  

As a state institution, this university cannot pay to have the concession stands’ kitchen appropriately kosher-certified, Hipple said. 

“We’re not allowed to pay to have the kitchen koshered and we’re not allowed to pay to oversee the kitchen,” Hipple said. 

Because UMD Chabad is providing its own staff to oversee the kitchen and keep things kosher, the stand can be successfully run, he added. 

Outside of minor equipment costs and putting up a new sign and menu, Testudo’s Kosher Korner did not require any additional revenue, Hipple said.

Moving forward, Testudo’s Kosher Korner hopes to continue providing an alternative for students at basketball games, Schwartz said.  

“Everyone was really excited to be working there for the first time,” Schwartz said. “Things will only run more smoothly as the season progresses.”