After delayed construction, the newly renovated dining hall opened for service
8/25/21 by Chloe Van Caeseele
Hinman Dining Center, Photo by Harry Karpen, Photo Editor
The 55-year-old Hinman Dining Center reopened for students for the first time since going under construction for renovations.
The dining hall’s grand opening was shared with the first day of classes, Aug. 24, offering new furniture, food options and interior. Returning dining service employee Mary Ellen Benedict said she was happy to be back home.
“To come back here and see all the people that we used to work with and familiar faces has been amazing,” Benedict said. “We all have to work, but I’m lucky to be working here. It’s a privilege.”
Jen Breneisen, a senior majoring in mathematics, said the dining hall will be a popular place throughout the academic year.
“You can tell that people are really excited because it has been packed,” Breneisen said. “It just feels really fun in the dining area because everyone is hanging out, eating and doing homework.”
New food stations at the dining hall include the Garden Grill — a fully vegan grill — and Neapolitan Pizza, a pizzeria serving personal-sized pizzas.
Similar to other residential dining halls on campus, there is a convenience store, or C-Store, on the ground floor offering bottled drinks, prepackaged snacks and more. Starbucks has also returned to the Hinman Dining Center.
Garbanzo’s Mediterranean Grill, a garden terrace for outdoor seating, student culinary makerspace and a commercial-sized kitchen for student use will all be offered at the Hinman Dining Center and are expected to be fully open within the next coming weeks.
Ryan Brill, a junior majoring in mathematics, said the options offered at the dining hall are just as good as the location.
“I am absolutely in love with the [Hinman C-Store],” Brill said. “There is a lot of good stuff in there. Starbucks is in such a convenient location for [Hinman College] and apartment residents. I think that it will be easy for all students to run up there in between classes because it’s so close to the Lecture Hall.”
Although the dining hall is open and running, the hours are not the same as before. Hinman Dining Center will not be open for Nite Owl. The new service hours will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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