The Austin College Pouch Club (PUB) was a student dining area that offered the fast food flavors that were not available in the main cafeteria. This snack bar offered pizzas, hamburgers, pita pockets, chicken sticks, bagel sandwiches, and more. This area within the Student Union Building (SUB) on the Austin College campus was Lorenzo Arredondo’s first job, as part of the college work study experience.

In his two years on campus this area became Lorenzo’s area to work, relax, and unwind from the daily grind of college studies. The PUB crew included full time employees of the Aramark corporation, along with other part time employees, most of which were students in the college work study program. Though many people tend to look down on the fast food industry and the idea of “flipping burgers,” Lorenzo knew this would be a job he would enjoy from day one. “I’m a people person and here I’d have a chance to take peoples’ orders, make their food to the best quality I could, all the while making friends and learning a lot about college life,” Lorenzo has said, “I put in so much overtime because this job–the PUB–gave me the spirit and energy that allowed me to last the two years I was at Austin College. There were plenty of sad, lonely days spent far away from home at Austin College; without that feeling of comradery and teamwork of being on a crew, who knows where I’d be.”

Transferring out of Austin College to attend the University of Texas at El Paso meant a change for the better in so many regards, but also meant Arredondo would have to say goodbye to the relationships he forged with the staff. As he bid farewell, Lorenzo believed that the experience provided much more than a paycheck: “In the end, I walked away from a wonderful experience and believed I was a better person because of it. We were in an environment that produced so much laughter and energy and we were paid for it. I think I got the better end of the deal.”

After his departure in 1999, Austin College planned to destroy the Student Union Building and PUB facility. The demolition began in 2001 and soon after the Wright Campus center was erected, which includes a larger Pouch Club.

While not exactly Pizza Hut, the pizza offered at the Pouch Club was definitely something many of the students waited in long lines to buy. Lorenzo really is passionate about any job that he does and working at the PUB was no different. He worked fast but tried to create the best looking pizza with lots of toppings, sometimes to the anger of Aramark managers, who wanted to sell pizzas with toppings that were sparingly used.

Ever been to the PUB when all its display case had was old, hardened slices? Not on Lorenzo’s shift. It continues to amaze him that people can do a job, absolutely hate it, but do nothing to try to enjoy it while it lasts. Keeping a positive outlook on things sure makes the job a whole lot easier and more enjoyable.

To make a PUB pizza there are some simple steps to follow. This isn’t a recipe, as this is how you’d make any pizza, so we’re not bothering to list ingredients! This is just how Lorenzo created those pizzas if you’re curious. Now here is what you do:

First, you need pizza dough. Prepare the dough by sprinkling flour on it. Next, stretch out the dough so that it fits the form of the pizza pan you will be using. Roll the edges of the dough to create the crust. Now roll over the dough with a pizza roller that has spikes, the indentations it creates allow the oven’s heat to travel evenly, preventing a burnt pizza.

Second, spread your pizza sauce around over the dough, avoiding the crust you created in step one.

Third, sprinkle your mozzarella cheese over our pizza. The PUB asked that employees actually measure out the cheese, which turned out decent pizzas. Lorenzo instead chose to top the pizzas completely. It was these pizzas that sold more quickly than those created by someone else!

Fourth, if you’re making a pepperoni pizza, put your pepperoni slices all over your pizza, spacing them out because they will slide as the cheese is melted in the oven. If you’re making a different type of pizza, then sprinkle the toppings of your choice at this time.

Fifth, cook that pizza in the oven. Oven temperatures vary by oven so don’t look for this page to even tell you what to set your oven to. Just know that it takes about 15-20 minutes to cook your pizza at the correct setting.

Finally, after these five easy steps you’re done. It’s time to for the hot and delicious Pouch Club pizza to be eaten!