Vet Vittles to undergo renovations
Vet Vittles in Lynn Hall is about to begin a transformation. The dining facility, built during the mid-'90s, needed to be refreshed, says Tom Coleman, manager of retail dining at Purdue Memorial Union.
The renovations will begin on May 8 and are set to be completed by Aug. 8. Setting up the store and training employees will likely take a week after that before reopening.
The Purdue Memorial Union's Oasis serves as inspiration for the redesign of Vet Vittles' menu.
"The Oasis has been very popular, with both students and staff, and we felt it would be a perfect fit given our customer base at Lynn Hall and the surrounding buildings," Coleman says.
A new menu will include both hot and cold breakfast and lunch items. Soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps, and fresh baked items will be offered also.
Coleman says, "We think the new menu will be a hit. It offers freshness and good nutritional value. It provides a good variety of offerings for the space allocated."
The change to an Oasis-style eatery also made sense from an expense standpoint. Minimal space modifications will be made to fit the necessary equipment needed to operate this concept, but the existing structure will remain intact, keeping renovation costs down.
The new dining area will also go by a new name -- Continuum Cafe. The fresh title reflects the theme of the School of Veterinary Medicine and will remain current for years to come, Coleman says.
With the financial support of Dean Willie Reed and the School of Veterinary Medicine, these changes are possible.
The renovation of Vet Vittles is a top priority for PMU Dining Services, but Coleman and his colleagues also plan to roll out a comprehensive customer service-training program prior to the fall 2010 semester.
They are looking at making small improvements to other satellite locations such as adding menu choices at Venture Cafe in the Burton Morgan Center. They also have partnered with the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex to operate the clubhouse snack shop.
"Although operating a food venue is not new, being on the course will certainly put us in a new environment that will be both fun and challenging," Coleman says.
Cafe Continuum is expected to open in mid-August. The hours of operation have not been set.