By Meredith Mason | Campus News Editor
After months of construction and great anticipation, the new Miley Café opened its doors to the Salve Regina community on August 29th, 2013. With seven interactive dining stations, 50 percent more seating and a brand new interior, the updated Miley was unrecognizable to upperclassmen students as they returned to campus.
“It is amazing to see how far Miley has come since we were freshmen,” says senior Siobhan Mullen. With a new layout, the dining hall now serves students in a market-place environment.
The previous self-serve stations have been replaced with the Mongolian grill, brick oven pizza and pasta, a carving station, salad bar, deli and an allergy free zone. A grill station was also added to take the place of Original Burger, which was located in the basement level of Miley Hall.
“I think the renovation was important because a delicious, sharp-looking cafeteria is crucial in attracting new students to our school, as well as providing fresh options for current students,” says Mullen.
One of the goals of the new cafeteria is to attract more off-campus and upperclassmen students back to on-campus dining. “The new options at Miley definitely make the cafeteria more appealing,” says Gina Tortorici, a junior, off-campus resident. Tortorici says that the different seating options make it easier to sit and catch up with a group of friends compared to the old set up.
According to dining services, foot traffic at the cafeteria has already increased by 10%, and more upperclassmen students are signing up for meal plans.
“My friends living off campus wish that they had a meal plan after seeing the new Miley,” says Vittoria Penna, a senior resident advisor. As an active member of the Salve community, Penna says that she has noticed more upperclassmen in Miley than in previous years.
In addition to the new interactive stations, many students have commented on the overall efficiency of the new layout. “Last year you would have to wait in crazy lines to get food and fight for a table, but now you can walk right in and find somewhere to sit,” says Tortorici.
In addition the renovated dining hall, the basement of Miley has also been updated with a student lounge and Starbucks. Nicole Ciolfi, a junior on campus resident, says that the new lounge provides students with another location to catch up with friends, or do homework. “I think Salve has worked well with the students to find out our needs and it is obvious that they listened to what we wanted,” says Ciolfi.
