East
campus gets new upscale eatery
Jazzmans Cafe, the upscale addition
to the east campus, provides an alternative to hungry
students and faculty looking for food on their side
of the university.
By Bill Morrison
Staff Reporter
Everyday, signs of growth on campus can be heard with
the roar of tractors and pounding of hammers, but now
students will hear something different: Smooth jazz
and the blending of smoothies.
After
two weeks of delay, Jazzmans Cafe is opening today
in the lower level atrium of the William E. and Jean
Jones Tucker Technology Center. Jazzmans, a division
of Sodexho School Services, will open for a trial run
from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. today and Friday. The grand
opening is Monday.
Jazzmans
will offer such goodies as Seattles Best Coffee,
Happy Muffins, cookies, smoothies, hot and cold sandwiches
and soup. This is the first Jazzmans location
in the Southwest. The establishments concept is
usually offered at campuses in the Northeast.
The
heart of the program is baked goods, Sodexho general
manager Rick Flores said. Jazzmans will
offer a lively atmosphere for students to enjoy.
Flores
said they hoped to be open as early as late October
but the construction did not begin until six weeks ago.
He said the delay came because a decision to open an
eatery in the Tucker Technology Center was not decided
until recently.
The
space was not intended for any food service, Flores
said. By the time a space had been agreed on,
none of the plumbing or electrical equipment in usual
food service locations was here.
Flores
said the decision to add a location on the east side
of campus originated out of last years House of
Student Representatives dining services committee,
as well as surveys conducted by Sodexho. Chancellor
Michael Ferrari also played a role by setting a directive
to have more eating options on the east side of campus,
Flores said.
Ferrari
said Tucker Technology Center would benefit from the
upscale cafe because of its professional aura. He said
that when plans for Jazzmans were being made,
they wanted something different.
We
knew we didnt want to go with a typical fast food
concept, Ferrari said. (Jazzmans)
seems to fit in with students interest.
Faculty
and staff tested the facilities during a test run Tuesday
and Wednesday to get the Sodexho staff ready and to
give feedback on the operation.
Louann
Bowles, administrative assistant for Provost William
Koehler, was one of the staff members who sampled the
new menu. She said the food was fresh and tasty.
The
university needs more places (to eat) on campus that
are near the academic buildings, Bowles said.
I think this is a great location with really good
ambiance.
w.c.morrison@tcu.edu
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