Three Chartwells locations on campus are expected to change their hours of operation starting Oct. 1, with the C-Store opening at 2 p.m. rather than noon, Zona Mexicana and Meltdown closing at 7 p.m. instead of 9 p.m. and the Dunbar Library Starbucks staying open until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
The changes in business hours were “based on student demand and our business observations as [Chartwells learns] more about campus and student eating habits,” said Chartwells Marketing Director Clint Kernen. “These adjustments will allow us to better serve the campus community.”
“The Hangar is still open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday,” said Kernen. “Only Meltdown and Zona Mexicana have seen changed hours, closing at 7 p.m.”
In addition, the C-Store will now open at 2 p.m. instead of noon.
“We found most students to be in the center of campus for lunch,” said Kernen.
Although Kernen said that the reaction to these hour changes has been positive so far “especially at the library and [from] students with evening classes,” some students—particularly those who live on campus—said that they were not pleased with the early closing.
“I’m disappointed in the C-Store hours changing,” said freshman psychology major Catherine Driver, “because it offers healthier options that what I now have to eat on weekends.”
“A lot of students don’t even get out of classes until past seven,” said Kayla Edwards, a sophomore pre-med student. “There are still other options for students to look into past that time, but as students paying tuition and for meal plans, it’s unfair that all our options aren’t available for dinner time.”
Eric Osman, a junior computer science major said he disagreed.
“I think it’s pretty cool that the café in the library is going to stay open later,” said Osman. “It will be good for people who need to study there and I think they’ll get a lot of business [during] the new times.”
