New Food Court Coming To WKU Campus
January 22, 2008
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Western Kentucky University is expanding its menu of dining options on campus.
Site preparation began last week for construction of a new food court near Pearce-Ford Tower. “This facility will be a quality of life enhancement for the on-campus residence life program,” said John Osborne, associate vice president for campus services.
About 2,700 students live in Pearce-Ford Tower, Keen, Poland, Zacharias, Meredith, Barnes-Campbell and Bemis Lawrence halls on the south end of WKU’s main campus.
The new food court is a joint venture between the Student Life Foundation, WKU Auxiliary Services and the WKU Restaurant & Catering Group.
The Student Life Foundation will pay for construction of the 6,300-square-foot facility, which will be leased by WKU Auxiliary Services. The projected cost is $2 million with completion by this fall.
The food court will include a Popeyes Chicken (the first for ARAMARK Higher Education), a ZOCA Tex-Mex food restaurant, an Edy’s ice cream parlor and a convenience store. The facility will seat 80.
A recent survey showed that students favor the food court project, according to Roy Biggers of WKU Restaurant & Catering Group. “We’re listening to the voice of students,” he said.
Student comments on the survey included:
- “I think it is a great idea...They really need something down here. And especially by PFT.”
- “I think this location is excellent!”
- “I think this would be awesome to have a place to eat right here at the bottom of the hill!”
- “It sounds like a new, fresh idea that will benefit the students living at the south end of campus.”
The new food court is just one enhancement being made for WKU students, faculty and staff.
An Einstein Bros. Bagels will open this semester at Mass Media and Technology Hall and will offer bagels, shmears, hot and cold sandwiches, salads and coffee.
WKU also is planning to open a food court and expanded bookstore this fall at its South Campus on Nashville Road.
“These projects will benefit the WKU community and will expand our food program on parts of campus where we have a need,” Osborne said.
More information about WKU’s dining options is available online at www.wkudining.com
For more about WKU Auxiliary Services, contact Gary Mezaros at (270) 745-6558. For more about the WKU Restaurant and Catering Group, contact Roy Biggers at (270) 745-2416. For more about the Student Life Foundation, contact Brian Kuster at (270) 745-2037.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
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