Liberty revamps on-campus dining

Founder’s Food Court opened its doors for the last time Thursday, Sept. 1. In order to help students with the transition of classes from Green Hall to DeMoss, Founder’s Food Court relocated. Some of the stations housed inside Founder’s have been moved to the Tilley, while others have been transferred to the Vines Center.

The Tilley kept all the original food stations but added a new buffet line that students can use as a meal swipe. Also, the SubConnection at Founder’s relocated to the Tilley and offers a six-inch sub for a meal swipe. However, the real transformation took place in Vines. Three food sections moved in — Chick-Fil-A Express, Lil Tone’s Pizza and Jazzman’s Café and Bakery.

“Many classes have been moved from Green Hall to DeMoss and main campus simply did not have the food capacity to provide for the increased amount of students,” Lee Beaumont, director of Auxiliary Services, said. “Lunchtime is always an issue people have due to the constrained time. Students trying to get lunch between classes should have an easier time due to the spread of Founder’s.”

Vines closed for construction Sept. 5 to make room for these new eating areas. The food court opened Sept. 7 for the first time. Sections 107-109 (Jazzman’s area) and 119-121 (Lil Tone’s Pizza) received booths so that students could have a place to sit other than the stadium seats. Chick-Fil-A is located between the two main entrances to Vines.

Students have mixed feelings about the switch. Some miss what Founder’s had to offer, not only the stations that were cut out like the “Made Your Way” and “Classics” stations, but also the intimacy Founder’s allowed.

“(Vines) lacks the same feel of community,” senior Elise Peer said. “Founder’s was a fun place to meet up with friends and share a meal together — it was a hangout place for students.”

Other students are excited about the new food changes on campus.

“It’s awesome! I love it! I can walk right over (to Vines) and get food now,” sophomore Rachael Neely said. Although, Neely did add that, “It will probably cause traffic flow problems with convo.”

According to Beaumont, the feedback shows that the students seem to have taken to the Chick-Fil-A in the Vines Center “like a duck to water.”

Workers in the new food court at the Tilley seem to like the switch, saying it’s easier for students and significantly closer to main campus. Workers also said that meal swipes should be available within the next week or two for students at Jazzman’s and Lil Tone’s Pizza. Vines will operate between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays and will be closed on weekends. Workers say, though, that the hours could change depending on the needs of the students.

“It was a fairly easy transition. Everyone worked together to make it happen,” sophomore and Jazzman’s worker Katie Gryder said of the move.

The move is just one of the first steps in the plans to enhance the on-campus dining experience at Liberty. Beaumont said that there are plans in the works for improvements to the Keyhole convenience store on the Circle at Dorm 14, while the option of getting food at the Campus East Clubhouse will also be coming back.

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