Sodexo is rolling out plenty of fresh, new dining options on campus this semester to help satisfy students’ cravings.
The best place to start? Coffee.
For those frustrated with the long lines at the Dunkin’ Donuts in Residential Commons I, Sodexo has added another Dunkin’ Donuts in the Tilley Student Center.
“The cool thing about the Dunkin’ in the Tilley is (that) it has an expanded menu,” Marketing Specialist for Sodexo Ryan Wheeler said. “It’s not just coffee. Now, you can get specialty drinks and pastries.”
And that’s not all. There’s a Dunkin’ Donuts Express opening in Williams Stadium, giving Liberty University a total of three Dunkin’ Donuts on campus.
The Reber-Thomas Dining Hall has also had some updates. Sodexo added a brand-new bakery, complete with a full bake shop where fresh pastries and sweets are made every day.
Behind the new bakery is an ice cream bar, which has been expanded and added to the coffee and smoothie bar. It features a cold stone where a large selection of toppings can be folded into the ice cream, similar to Cold Stone Creamery.
“We heard last year that there just weren’t enough toppings, so now we have a whole wall of them,” Wheeler said. “We are all about trying to create a better experience for students.”
Doc’s Diner has also received a makeover, with an entirely new interior design and menu changes.
“We wanted to lighten up the feel,” Wheeler said. “We’re getting rid of the things that were slow movers and getting some new culinary ideas … that will hopefully be refreshing.”
In addition to revamping current locations on campus, Sodexo has also brought in some entirely new dining experiences. The biggest change Sodexo is introducing is “cashless” dining locations in the Montview Student Union.
In order to promote faster lines, Sodexo encourages students to use swipes, plus swipes and debit/credit only. However, there will still be cash drawers in all registers in case a customer needs to pay in cash.
Also in the Montview Student Union is Hey Cow!, a new hamburger and milkshake joint located next to Star Ginger in the former Ufood Grill location. Diners can choose from several creatively named gourmet burgers, such as the IHOB, which includes fries and a fountain drink for a plus swipe.
Sodexo is also excited about the House of Flames, a Liberty startup created by Mr. Rot himself — Duke Davis, the general manager for Sodexo.
The restaurant, which will be located in the newly renovated Williams Stadium, will feature fresh-cut seasoned fries and specialty wings with homemade sauces such as Mr. Rot’s Sneaky Spicy Sauce.
“That sauce — it doesn’t hit you until a couple minutes after, and then… bam!” Wheeler said.
Liberty is also taking steps towards freshness with a new herb garden in the Reber-Thomas Dining Hall. Chefs will now be able to pick freshly grown herbs to use in their dishes.
If students are interested in getting fresh produce for themselves, the Montview Student Union will be hosting five produce stands throughout the semester. Much like a miniature farmer’s market, students can visit booths of local vendors, buy freshly grown produce and learn about their products.
The first produce stand will be Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first floor of the Montview Student Union, with the last produce stand being in late November.
For more information on what Sodexo is doing at Liberty, to check what’s available for a swipe, or to make suggestion, students can visit Sodexo’s website at liberty.sodexomyway.com.