David HartsteinNightly attendance at Center Court, one of the campus’s most labor-intensive eateries, has dropped to new lows, prompting concern from the Student Union Food Committee and Dining Services.
According to Food Committee Chairman Jeff Zove, nightly attendance numbers at Center Court this year have been at 350 people per night on average. Prior to the redesign of Bear’s Den in the fall of 2003, roughly 850 people per night dined at Center Court. Immediately after the overhaul of Bear’s Den, the numbers dropped to around 600 students per night. Both the changes to Bear’s Den and the fifty-cent price increase at Center Court have been cited by Kathy Carmody, general manager for Bon App‚tit, as potential factors in the declining numbers.
“The popularity of Bear’s Den as a quick, fun, made-to-order eatery could be a factor,” Zove said. “We need to work to reestablish the Center Court experience as a place for both eating and socializing.”
Bear’s Den currently averages between 2800 and 3000 people per night, with the bulk of them dining after 5 p.m. Ursa’s handles around 500 to 600 people in one evening.
SU’s Food Committee has been working with Carmody to determine the cause of lower attendance at Center Court over the past few months. Carmody noted that the remodeling of Bear’s Den has played a large role in changes in attendance.
For Carmody, low attendance at Center Court poses a unique problem because of the large quantities of food necessary at a buffet-style venue.
“We have to put so much food out up there because of the layout of the operation,” said Carmody. “It’s a concern because we don’t want to waste food either, but it makes a little bit more up there because you have so many items to choose from. It’s some huge concern but we’d like to get more people up there.”
Students like sophomore Saurabh Anand echo Carmody’s understanding of Bear’s Den’s appeal. For Anand, the differences in time and cost have made Bear’s Den his first choice.
“Now it takes lots of time to go to Center Court and now the cost has gone up.” Anand said. “If you’re on a lower meal plan, it’s too expensive when you can eat at Bear Den for around four or five points.”
Senior Keren Wietzberg noted that Center Court does have a more social atmosphere than Bear’s Den, but adds, “It’s not a place I’d eat at regularly. It’s more of a weekend place for brunch.”
Comments and suggestions from students are exactly what Zove and Carmody want to hear. The Center Court situation had been a topic of concern over the weeks prior to winter break, and still remains a top issue for this semester.
“We want suggestions from students and need specific requests and ideas,” Zove said.
Some ideas that the committee has come up with thus far include developing a stir-fry station similar to the one currently in the Village dining hall and adding more options that appeal to vegetarians.
Students can use the comment cards available at eateries around campus to voice their concerns and offer suggestions. The Food Committee can also be reached via email at [email protected].