Serving up new dining options on campus
By Russell Alston, Student Writer
Faculty, staff and students of Coastal Carolina University have a dizzying array of dining options these days, and more decisions will be presented to patrons this fall.
Renovations to Hicks Dining Hall and the CINO Grille will present more choices, as both venues are going through renovations meant to offer new menu items and more efficient service.
New to CINO Grille is Chauncey’s Queso Corner. According to Rein Mungo, CCU director of university projects and planning, renovations were mainly electrical and plumbing modifications to serve the new station, which occupies the former pizza bar. Mungo also says the floors of CINO were resurfaced, in addition to more teal-accented walls being incorporated. The area where the Grab & Go station was located will be replaced by Chick-fil-A.
“The plans for the Chick-fil-A station are being reviewed, and construction will begin this winter,” says Mungo.
According to Jeff “@FoodMan” Stone, CCU food services director, other changes include an expanded salad bar, more cereal and milk options, a redesign to the entrances and reworked cashier stands — modifications intended to improve customer flow.
The makeovers to Hicks Dining Hall are also meant to better serve the customers of CCU in efficiency and options.
“In Hicks, we have adjusted Fried Chicken Friday (hashtag #FCF) to be at two stations,” says Stone. “We’re also bringing a pantry to our students who have special dietary needs and have reworked our menus so guests can experience some new foods.” Smaller cosmetic changes include tables branded with an image of Chauncey and teal and white plates and cups.
Stone believes these and other changes, such as the new express line at Einstein Bros Bagels and Wednesday take-home dinners at Hicks Dining Hall, will benefit the faculty and staff of CCU, as well as its students.
“The faculty and staff can look forward to all the changes going on across campus,” he says. “I believe they will assist them just as much as it will assist our students in making their lives easier and happier.”
There are between 10 to 12 food venues within a three-minute walk from anywhere on campus. That’s a far cry from the days of just a lone snack bar at CCU.
“We now have a dedicated vegetarian station; we use more fresh vegetables and promote healthy choices and options. We adjust as our guests tastes, needs and wants change,” says Stone.
National coffee chain, Starbucks, is scheduled to open sometime in November, in the former Java City in Kimbel Library. Starbucks was the overwhelming choice by students as the coffee brand desired, based on a campus survey conducted by food service provider Aramark.
Choosing what spots to open involves a multi-layered process. Stone’s office conducts “focus groups, surveys, informal discussions and interviews with members of the administration.” The feedback is then used to create a plan for dining services.
“Each addition and/or renovation in its own way will assist our visitors, faculty, staff and students in having an even better experience while they are at CCU,” he says.
The “FoodMan” and his crew are experiencing their own renovations as well, which he believes will assist in providing a better dining experience.
The former student lounge in the Jackson Center has been modified to include seven offices for CHANT411 and food services.
“Our team has been expanding over the past three years just as dining as a whole has,” says Stone. “It will be great for my team to be able to have its own space to assist in providing even better service to the CCU community.”
Stone says that even the best plans may not be executed as planned, however.
“We all plan, plan, plan, but sometimes it doesn’t work out, and we have to adjust on the fly,” he says. “Please be patient with us as these changes occur.”
