The Union community will have to wait longer than expected for their on-campus chicken nuggets and waffle fries.
On the morning of Feb. 1, Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver sent an email to the student body announcing that the anticipated on-campus Chick-fil-A would not open this semester as planned.
“Last week Aramark notified us that before beginning construction on the Chick-fil-A, Union would need to commit to a substantial increase in cost of the meal plans for fall 2015,” Oliver said. “This gave me pause. While we wanted very much to have the Chick-fil-A, because of the delay, it would not even be ready for use until late March (at Spring Break).”
In the email, Oliver explained that Union’s current food service contractor, Aramark, notified him in November 2014 that the former Lexington Inn would be renovated to a Chick-fil-A by the beginning of the spring 2015 semester. It would have been Union’s first retail brand under the historic contract with Aramark.
Oliver said the construction bids for renovation of the Lexington Inn came in higher than expected, so construction was delayed. In addition, the cost of student meal plans would have increased, with “no strategy for improved quality or service,” Oliver said.
Therefore, Oliver decided to stop construction on the Chick-fil-A.
“I was disappointed, because everyone wanted a CFA on campus,” said Caleb Bernui, sophomore cellular and molecular biology major. “It would be so much better than [the Lexington Inn] or Brewer all the time. But as I read the email, I began to understand why we weren’t getting a Chick-fil-A. We’re going to wait and make it better in the long run, instead of raising our prices.”
Union’s annual food contract with Aramark ends on May 2015. Oliver said the university has decided to “completely re-bid our food service operation.”
Oliver, along with a committee of administrators and student representatives, will evaluate three to four food service contractors during the spring semester and make a final decision by May 1, 2015.
“I appreciated Dr. Dub’s explanation as to why we weren’t getting [the Chick-fil-A],” said Morgan Morfe, junior social work major. “He was looking out for the student’s best interests financially, rather than needs or wants.”
The Lexington Inn re-opened Feb. 4 and will continue operations under Aramark for the rest of the semester with the same setup, menu items and hours as before.
“We must be focused on the longer term,” Oliver said. “I believe this process will result in a much improved food service operation for our students.”
