A Taste for Entrepreneurship
When Nik Schultz and Jamal Rasoully frequented the Campus Center as students, neither one thought he’d be returning to UAlbany just a few years later as an entrepreneur. As things turned out, however, both came back to operate food outlets there.
Schultz, who studied history and education, is the mastermind behind the popular Nikos Café. Located in the Campus Center’s West Addition, Nikos serves breakfast all day; its lunch and dinner offerings include souvlaki, gyros, Greek fries, and salads. The menu features meat and vegetarian options.
In the East Addition, accounting graduate Rasoully operates The Halal Shack, which brings “the best of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors” to campus. Inspired by New York City street foods and authentic Afghan cuisine, the menu allows customers to build their own meals by combining a rice, naan, lettuce, or “zoodle” base with meat fillings, vegetable or cheese toppings, and one of six sauces.
A former Great Danes athlete, Schultz admitted he “wasn’t the best student at the beginning of my studies.” However, he credits his roundabout journey – and legendary football head coach Bob Ford – for his success with school, sports, and later, Nikos.
“I was able to improve my grades and become a leader on the football field at UAlbany. It was during this time that I made connections and grew a network in and around the University that is directly attributable to my initial success in owning my own business,” Schultz remembered.
Rasoully already knew a thing or two about running a successful food venue from growing up in a family of established restaurateurs. Despite that ingrained knowledge, he still credits his years at UAlbany for his success.
“My time as a student gave direction to my ambition,” recalled Rasoully, who also minored in business administration. “From the basics of time management to capstone courses that taught me how to make business plans, [the University] was vital to my growth and really prepared me to be a business owner.”
Rasoully’s goal for The Halal Shack was simple: “to unite cultures and people through food, one sauce’n meal at a time!” Based on the steady flurry of customers and the warm welcomes from the staff, it seems his vision has been realized. The Halal Shack also has a charitable component, donating a portion of its profits to local charities.
Both entrepreneurs are enthusiastic about the energy and buzz at the Campus Center. Working there, Schultz said, “allows me to be around young, energetic people full of life and ambition. Coach Ford always said working on a college campus is one of the most fulfilling things that anyone can do in their professional career.”
Though Nikos and The Halal Shack keep the two alums busy, their work doesn’t stop at the Campus Center. Schultz’s NC Schultz LLC, which runs Anton’s Greek Restaurant on New Scotland Avenue in Albany, caters events and operates Spartan Fit Meals. Rasoully owns Spin Sauce, the first Mediterranean and Middle Eastern manufacturer of condiments in the U.S. Spin Sauce, which also donates 10 percent of its proceeds to orphanages and communities around the world, has been featured in The New York Times and Food & Wine as one of the best new condiments on the market.
Rasoully and Schultz have some advice for UAlbany students who might want to follow the same track they did to business success: Focus on learning from your mistakes, and pay attention to the little details along the way.
