The Espress'ery and R.C. Proffitt's are permanently closing, but new plans are in store for students seeking a social scene in Pollock Commons.

Assistant manager of Food Services Clay Barkley said the entire first floor of Pollock Commons will be remodeled, and new features -- such as more pool tables, new mailboxes and study lounges -- will be added.

The Espress'ery and R. C. Proffitt's will permanently close on March 6, although a "mini-convenience store" will temporarily open upstairs for the remainder of the semester, said Lisa Wandel, associate director of food services.

The crew is moving in to revamp the first floor on May 9, when Pollock Commons closes for the summer, Barkley said. He added that Housing will probably arrange for students to live and eat in other common areas to prevent inconveniences.

Barkley said Housing and Food services is remodeling because Pollock Commons is seriously outdated.

"I mean, there is still old carpet on the walls from the '70s, and time has just dictated that the area needs to be cleaned up," Barkley said.

He said the new location, a combination of the convenience store that was R.C. Proffitt's and the Espress'ery, will provide students with a more social commons atmosphere, with seating to accommodate a greater number of students.

Wandel said the Espress'ery was just a temporary fix to accommodate the rising market for specialty coffees.

"[The business] started out strong, but in recent years -- though it is still offering the same types of products -- the attendance has gone down a lot," Wandel said.

During the interim, Barkley said he does not know if there will be a place for the musicians who perform regularly at "open mic" nights. He said the new dual-purpose shop and convenience store will have a half-moon stage set aside specifically for students to perform, with microphones and speakers so that students who want to perform won't be hesitant if they lack the materials to do so. Once the new area opens, Barclay said Residence Life will take over control of the eatery, including scheduling performers for potential open mics. The assistant director said he was confident the new supervisors will help make the previously small-scale performances larger.

Leslie Bair (senior-human development and family studies), who sometimes goes to the Espress'ery to get a cup of coffee, relax and listen to students playing music, said she is excited about the renovation.

"I bet it will be a really cool place," Bair said. "It always gets pretty crowded in here, so I think [the new shop] will be a nice addition."

Collegian staff writer Dante DelVecchio contributed to this story.