KNOXVILLE — Students, faculty and staff at the University of Tennessee will have more choices for meals by the end of the summer.
Three national chain restaurants are being added to campus dining facilities.
The Café at the Arena, also known by regulars as Arena Dining, in Thompson-Boling Arena closed today to make room for a McAlister’s Deli. The facility is expected to reopen during the second week of August.
Einstein Bros. Bagels is being added in the Art and Architecture Building, and the Apartment Residence Hall is getting a Quiznos.
“We are very excited about offering these delicious food concepts on campus,” said Mary Leslie Patterson, marketing director for ARAMARK on campus.
“During the closures of the facilities, we hope faculty, staff and students will take advantage of other restaurants and food service on campus such as Mabel’s, the BridgeView Grill, Rocky Top Café and Smokey’s,” she said. Mabel’s is located on the Agriculture Campus; Rocky Top Café and Smokey’s are in the University Center; and the BridgeView Grill is on the top floor of the Boathouse at 900 Neyland Drive.
The café in the arena will continue to provide a hot bar, salad bar and pasta bar. Several televisions will be installed in the seating area, and the cash registers will be moved to accommodate the lunch time rush of customers.
The McAlister’s in the arena will offer the same menu and prices as its other franchises off campus.
Einstein Bros. Bagels will replace the A&A Café and convenience store. The café is now closed for the summer, and Einstein Bros. Bagels is expected to open the second week of August.
The Quiznos will be located inside Andy’s Pantry in the Apartment Residence Hall and will offer a menu similar to the counter in the Rocky Top Café. Andy’s Pantry will continue to sell its own sandwiches and salads in grab-and-go coolers. The pantry is closed now for construction, and it is expected to reopen in September.
The new outlets are part of a 10-year contract the University signed with ARAMARK Inc. last month. ARAMARK provides all food service on campus.
“ARAMARK conducted a consumer survey among faculty, staff and students to determine what kinds of foods to offer and then proposed these additions,” said Jeff Maples, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration.
The residential restaurant in Morrill Hall also is getting a new look and taste. The serving and seating areas are being remodeled with a completion date set for the end of July. An Asian stir-fry area also will be added.
—
Contacts:
Jeff Maples, 865-974-3061
Mary Leslie Patterson, ARAMARK, 865-974-7873
Elizabeth Davis, Media Relations, 865-974-5179, elizabeth.davis@tennessee.edu