As students steer through the Student Alumni Union after a midday class, a distinct voice can be heard yelling out numbers, “number five, number six,” and the count continues. That voice belongs to Justin Kirchgessner, manager of Nathan’s Soup & Salad on RIT’s campus.

Nathan’s sits in the middle of campus in the Student Alumni Union, primarily serving soups, sandwiches and freshly baked breads. The business, operating since 1980, also includes an off-campus location at the Genesee Valley Regional Market Authority at 900 Jefferson Road. The university location first opened in November 2010 and has occupied a spot in RIT’s dining culture for 15 years.

From Crew Member to Manager
The 2025-2026 academic year marks Kirchgessner’s seventh year as store manager at RIT. A lifelong Rochester native, he started with the business as a regular crew member, seeking flexibility in hours to spend time with family. After the shop cycled through managers, he stepped into the position with previous managerial experience and made it his own.

He starts each workday in the kitchen, arriving with a truckload of products around 8 a.m. to prepare the food for opening at 10 a.m.. Besides the early hours, Kirchgessner faces challenges with staffing college students who possess a variety of outside commitments. Students leave each semester for co-ops and other obligations, creating a cycle of constant changes.

Kirchgessner has adjusted within his role over time, believing that he has become more personal with student workers since originally starting as a manager.

“I try now to understand what [students] are doing in their lives, what they’re doing here in class and why they chose to try to work at Nathan’s,” Kirchgessner says.

One such student worker, Sai Prasath, a fourth-year Computer Engineering student who has worked at Nathan’s for three years, outlined his experiences working for the RIT location.

“I personally enjoy working for Justin because we share common interests that we talk about all the time,” Prasath says. I feel extremely comfortable approaching Justin with all my problems because I know he’s always willing to help me.”

When hiring and training students, Kirchgessner considers dependability above all else.

“Dependability is key. You can’t exactly measure that right away when you hire people, but you can ask some questions in the beginning to really feel if they’re just looking for a couple bucks, or if they’re really committed to making a difference,” he explains.

Life Outside the Kitchen
A typical workday for Kirchgessner ends at 4 p.m. on weekdays. After leaving campus, he either works a second job with Instacart delivering groceries or prepares for one of his favorite activities: poker.

The game allows him to escape the monotony of work and regular life, creating a regular circle of friends and bonding experience.

“Poker’s been life-changing for me, maybe not so much in terms of money. It allows me to escape from my norm, which is a homebody and small circle of friends, and allows me to connect with all sorts of different people in the world,” he says.

Kirchgessner owns two commercial properties in the area, which operate as a social club for his games and events. He lives with his girlfriend, stepdaughter and “little terror” of a cat, making home life a busy endeavor as well.

The manager invites students to reach out at the store or online with ideas for Nathan’s, and emphasizes the role students play in the operations.

“We love being here and want to keep the relationship we have with RIT, which means students need to keep coming by for food. If anyone has ideas or things they’d like Nathan’s to try, they can reach out in person or through the website.”