When families and prospective pre-frosh visit campus and ask current students where to eat on campus, a frequent response is Holmes Lounge. But food isn’t the only thing drawing students to Holmes every day at lunch, as the eatery has become known for its personable, caring and loving staff.  

“The students come in and, you know, look sad,” Holmes staff member Robert Scott, who has worked at Washington University since 1985 and at Holmes Lounge since 1998, said. “We try to cheer them up. Crack jokes or whatever. Sometimes I ask what’s the problem. Try to help them solve their problems.”

Jaden Satenstein | Student Life

The Holmes Lounge staff near the carvery station, which will close at the end of the semester with the opening of Parkside Cafe.

Holmes staff members have formed strong bonds with students over the years, making the eatery a memorable feature of the Wash. U. experience and keeping students coming back long after their time at the University is done.

“I enjoy seeing the older students, the alumni, come back and see us,” Scott said. “They recognize us, and we recognize them.”

The Holmes Lounge carvery station is always a comforting and enjoyable place to be, as the staff members’ energy and engaging rapport with each other make the often long line worth the wait.  

“My favorite memory is coming here and working with these guys every day,” staff member Lawona Harris said. Because I keep them laughing. And I keep myself laughing, too. I’m a happy person.”

Other staff members echoed Harris’ sentiment, expressing how they have become a strong team through their time together.

“Working as a group is really uplifting because each one of us—we sort of, you know, challenge each other on what we do and how we do it,” Joseph Jones, who has worked at Holmes for ten years, said. “And that’s probably the biggest thing, because they put us together for a reason. And I think that reason shows every day…We bring out the best in each other.”

Students always know they’re going to get a good meal from the famous carvery station, which serves perfectly toasted wraps and sandwiches featuring the freshly cut meat of the day.

The most popular bread choice? By far the “Bada Bing.”

“‘Bada Bing’ is so popular. That’s the first thing coming out their mouth. ‘Bada Bing!’” Holmes Lounge supervisor Tishia Hopkins said. “They’ll come in and say, ‘Oh, I was having a little bad day, but I’m going to get this sandwich!’”

To many students’ dismay, the Holmes Lounge carvery station is set to close at the end of the academic year with the opening of Parkside Cafe in the East End’s new Schnuck’s Pavilion.

The cafe will feature similar offerings to Holmes Lounge, such as a carvery station, in addition to a rotating menu of St. Louis classics, Associate Vice Chancellor of Dining Services Alan Kuebler told Student Life in October, noting that Holmes Lounge staff members will be placed in new positions on campus after the closing. The staff stated that they were not yet aware of what their roles next year will be.

Staff member Arthur Curtis, whose bright smile greets each student as they order their sandwich or wrap of choice, expressed that the opening of Parkside will be difficult but exciting.

“It’s going to be a big challenge,” Curtis said. “Once you get into it and settle in, it’ll be alright. Just a bigger place, a few extra items. It’ll be good.”

Even after they serve their last ‘Bada Bing’ at Holmes, each staff member will certainly remain an uplifting and touching presence in students’ lives.

“I think we brighten up their day,” Hopkins said.

And she was so right.