The Market at Alvin’s will expand later this month to a full market with additional space and new food options, officials said.
Chartwells replaced Sodexo as the university’s food service provider in July. Officials announced in April that they planned to replace Alvin’s Café with a Chick-fil-A, based on a dining survey asking students their opinions on potential food providers.
The current market is temporary, and the entire space eventually will include a full market and a Chick-fil-A.
The full market will be finished this month, said Lori Walker, director of auxiliary services.
Construction was delayed because of permit issues, but it is underway now, Walker said. The exact date Chick-fil-A will open still is unknown, although Walker previously said it would be next semester.
Barista Tori Anderson said the full market will include:
- hot food options,
- more to-go options,
- twice as many fridges and freezers, and
- smoothies and protein drinks.
Walker said she looks forward to offering healthy options.
“The type of students we have on campus are very health-conscious, and there’s going to be more options available for them in the market than we’ve ever had before,” Walker said.
Before Chartwells became the new food provider, Alvin’s Café served a variety of hot food options. The full market is planned to have hot food, but not as many as before.
The food offered partially depend on the feedback employees receive, Anderson said.
“We’re going to be asking people to let us know what they would like to have,” she said. “People are telling me the ‘Eclectic Henry’ is delicious, and I’m like, ‘alright, if you give me the ingredients, I’ll tell my boss.’ I can make a sandwich. A sandwich is easy.”
The “Eclectic Henry” was a sandwich served last year in Alvin’s Café. Named after President Robert Henry, the sandwich consisted of turkey, bacon, ham, lettuce, tomato, Swiss cheese, and pesto mayo.
Anderson said she’s most excited for the additional space to work. She said the temporary market is “a little cramped.”
“There’s at least four people working a shift at a time,” Anderson said. “I’d rather be in a bigger space.”
Barista Carlos Sanchez, English junior, said he hopes hot food options will return, despite the difficulties it may cause.
“That’ll make my job a bit harder if I have to do both barista and food, but I really miss being able to eat here,” he said.
Erik Hamilton, acting sophomore, said he hopes hot food returns along with a bigger variety for students.
“I hope there’s an expansive menu with a lot of options for people because they had that last year,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton also said he wants the original late hours of Alvin’s to return.
The current hours are:
– 7:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Thursday,
– 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday,
– 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, and
– 5-11 p.m. Sunday.
“I really hope they extend their hours again. I know they cut it back because they didn’t want to put unnecessary stress on the employees, but we’re students. We need jobs. People here could work at Alvin’s,” Hamilton said.
“It’s such a safe haven for after rehearsals are done, especially rehearsals that end at midnight. It can be tough when you have to skip out on dinner or only go for a few seconds.”
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