This semester, Mississippi State students will see changes to dining on campus including the addition of two new eateries.
A new restaurant has opened in the Colvard Student Union. Mississippi Steak has replaced Miso Noodle and Sushi Bar. Dining Services based the change on customer feedback.
Last year, Miso averaged $1,400 per day, while Mississippi Steak brought in $3,000 in its first day alone, dining services reported. The change has been so successful that a second cash register was added last weekend.
Mississippi Steak is open from 7:30 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday. Philly cheese steak sandwiches are the main items offered, but there are also breakfast items available until 10:30 a.m. The location will continue serving sushi, hot soup and noodle bowls.
Jason Nall, executive director and resident district manager of MSU Dinning Services, said the changes were best for the university.
“We look at the space we have, look for more efficient ways to serve the customers with more variety without taking anything away,” Nall said.
The Templeton Athletic Academic Center has also opened a cafeteria within its building. Real Food on Campus at Templeton offers a variety of food with a menu available online. It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Students can use meal plans just as they would at Fresh Market at Perry.
The drawback to this new dining facility is the distance from the center of campus. To accommodate this, the Maroon and The Loop shuttles run to Templeton from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Jennifer Barnette, marketing manager of MSU Dining Services, said Templeton is not in the current traffic flow.
“However, it is a traffic pattern that can change, especially in the spring with baseball games in the vicinity,” Barnette said.
Another addition will be Village Pizza, tentatively scheduled to open the first week in September. It will be located in Griffis Hall as a late night choice for students from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Friday. Hot sandwiches, pizza and fresh fruit smoothies will be available. Students will have outdoor dining available as well as the choice to return to their residence halls. Village Pizza will also contain a Provisions on Demand, POD, which will provide convenience items for purchase. This will be available from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Friday. FLEX dollars from the meal plan can be used at Village Pizza.
The marketing department is working on plans for the opening week. One event that is being suggested is having a karaoke night.
Bill Broyles, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, said Village Pizza is an attempt to “better serve students where they are.”
Other dining options have also seen some minor changes. Chick-fil-A, the highest volume branch on a college campus, has added both an extra cash register and milkshakes. Burger King has been remodeled with new paint, new furniture and a pick-up window. Fresh Market at Perry has added an Asian line and changed the vegan station to tossed salads. Perry has also seen some other various changes, which Barnette said, “You just have to walk in to see.”
With major changes either done or soon to be complete, Dining Services will soon begin to look at changes for next summer.