FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Students’ hunger for change in Fairfield’s dining services seems to have been fed by Sodexo’s updated dining options implemented at the start of this semester.
The new dining options include the addition of a Starbucks in the DiMenna-Nyselius Library and a cafe in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. The Barone Main Dining Room, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Starbucks and the Stag Snack Bar all have expanded hours as well.
Assistant Vice President of Administration and Student Affairs James Fitzpatrick ’70 believes that the expansion of dining hours in Barone has been one of the biggest successes.
“The late night numbers are very, very strong. People seem to be lounging around … relaxing and talking with no pressure in terms of time,” he said.
Longtime Sodexo employee Jose Morales agreed with the statement, saying, “It’s definitely busy … [Students] still come in until 9:30.”
Fitzpatrick also mentioned that focusing on Friday and Saturday night meals in Barone has been “extremely well received.”
“I came up on Friday night and I said ‘I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a Friday night dinner where there were so many options,’” said Fitzpatrick.
On the other hand, Fitzpatrick said that business at Starbucks has started off slow, and Einstein’s has seen lower sales on Saturdays. But Fitzpatrick credits the low turnout to the fact that students are still easing into the semester.
Einstein’s employee Stephanie Cenatiempo said she noticed more students buying from Einstein’s later on Saturday morning “at around 9 or 10 a.m.”
Fairfield’s new dining changes also include the option to use meal plan swipes at the Stag. Although there are limits to what students can purchase and at what time they can purchase them, this update has been incredibly popular.
When asked about its success, Fitzpatrick laughed, saying, “I think