Redifer Dining Commons in South Halls will look a little different when students return to campus next fall, with another sandwich line and an expanded, relocated coffee shop.
Redifer Dining Commons Manager Jim Richard said the changes are in response to the results of a student survey issued last semester.
The answers to the survey, which the management posts online each semester, showed students' frustrations with the long lines at In a Pickle.
Next fall, a second deli line, called In a Pickle Too, will be opened in Off the Ground's current location.
Off the Ground will move to the low-ceiling dining area at the bottom of the staircase, to the left of the restrooms, Richard said.
Off the Ground will also be expanded to include smoothies, ice cream and milkshake items.
"Our goal is to improve the speed of service and the number of offerings for our guests," Richard said.
He said choosing the location for the additional deli line was easy because the equipment is already set up with the current In a Pickle station.
Construction on new facilities for Off the Ground began two weeks ago, Richard said. He hopes to have all renovations completed before the fall semester and open the new areas on Aug. 30.
Lisa Wandel, associate director of food services, said she does not believe the construction will be too much of an inconvenience to current dining operations.
"The students seem to be OK with [the construction], and I think it's because they are excited about what is to come," she said.
Redifer Commons will also have to hire more students to staff the new facilities, Richard said.
"The Off the Ground staff can travel to its new location, but we will be hiring 10 to 12 more students to staff In a Pickle Too," he said.
Some students agree with the reasons behind the renovations.
"It is a good idea because the coffee place has a different rush time," Erin Bankey (sophomore-public relations) said.
Emmeny Beadle (sophomore-psychology) said she did not participate in the online student survey, but she also thinks that the current wait times for the deli line are too long.
"Now, I end up waiting 20 minutes for a sandwich, especially at 5:30 or 6 p.m., so two lines would be amazing," she said. "[In a Pickle] is definitely the most popular place for people to eat."
Wandel said she and her department remain positive about the project and expect positive student reactions in the fall.
"[The] management team has put an incredible amount of thought, time and review into this project," Wandel said. "I can't imagine it's not going to work."



