Students wishing to grab a bagel from the Einstein Brothers Bagels Café may be surprised to find that another café has taken its spot in the UCOM building.
The decision to replace Einstein Brothers on campus was made after the university was notified that the franchise agreement between Sodexo (http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/308.asp) and Einstein Brothers was ending soon. It was decided to replace Einstein with another café with different dining options available.
“Sodexo conducted on-campus surveys to poll student dining preferences and establish if a change in the UCOM facility would be desirable,” says Procurement Office Director Justin Kraynack.
The preferences from students indicated that if there were a change in name and layout for the café, there should be a larger variety of food products at more reasonable prices. Kraynack said it was “necessary” to change the dining concepts at the café to better serve the changing student population.
According to Dining Services General Manager Michael Molnar, Marketing and Dining Services will be working with the student population to come up with a new name for the café, which is now being referred to as the Café at UCOM. Although some Sodexo employees have asked Marketing for the café to be re-named after late food services employee Glenn Gambini, this is one option that has been presented to Marketing and Communications.
“There have been some people that have asked about (renaming the café after Glenn) but as far as dining services, we are leaving that (decision) up to Lisa Reynolds and the Marketing department and Wilkes senior staff,” Molnar said.
Molnar said that Dining Services is open to any kind of dining concept that Marketing and the student population would like to have.
Students will still be allowed to use Dining and Flex Dollars as they had before at the Café at UCOM. There are new food options to provide a more “grab-n-go” style of dining, according to Kraynack.
“New sandwiches, wraps and quesadillas were added to expand variety,” Kraynack said. “Coffee and bagels are still part of the breakfast menu, just with different brands and variations.”
Although initially surprised to discover that Einstein Brothers would be leaving campus, senior criminology major Yasmine Soloman says she is pleased with the minor menu changes that have been made.
“It’s okay that they changed it,” Soloman said. “There are a few different things that we’re not used to that they didn’t have before here so it’s not the same as Rifkin (Café).”
Kraynack said that he is working with Web Communications Director Craig Thomas to develop the naming contest. It has currently been delayed due to the recent flooding.
“Whatever the (café) becomes, it will be a well thought-out plan that will service the students, faculty, staff, and the community in the best way that it can,” Molnar said.
For more information on Dining on campus visit www.wilkes.edu.