The start of the semester marked a shift in hours of on-campus restaurants like Tyler’s and The Cellar.
University of Richmond Dining Services reduced hours at Tyler’s, which now closes at 6 p.m. on weekdays and is fully closed on weekends. The Cellar’s hours have expanded, opening at noon on weekends and closing later at 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
Heilman Dining Center’s front of house manager Scott Glatfelter said the change in hours for Tyler’s and The Cellar helped to avoid duplication because of the similarities between the restaurant menus.
First-year Will Jackson said that even though dining hours can be limited, he knows other students who own vehicles that can take him off campus to eat.
“The Cellars open until midnight most of the time,” he said, “but I can pick stuff up in town.”
Even with the flexibility to travel off campus, Jackson acknowledged some challenges with on-campus dining.
“Tyler’s and Passport close up early. I remember I was trying to get a late lunch and I couldn’t,” he said. “And D-hall closes so early.”
Campus food operations have adjusted their hours over the years based on a variety of factors, including student requests and staffing. However, the dining hall has always closed at 8 p.m. But keeping the dining hall open any later would be impractical, Glatfelter said. An expansion of just an extra one or two hours would require hiring approximately 40 more people.
Similar to Tyler’s, Passport Cafe is only open on weekdays, and closes at 6:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Passport closes even earlier on Friday, at 5 p.m.
First-year Jack Henry-Seymore has found it difficult to manage his eating hours because of his involvement in extracurricular activities, especially as a student who lives on-campus without a car. He’s had to order delivery food through DoorDash or Grubhub when dining locations are closed at the end of the night.
Even though some students have struggled with finding food after hours, other students are excited about The Cellar’s extended Sunday hours.
Sophomore Tyler Demilt said the early afternoon hours at The Cellar on Sundays are a nice bonus during football season.
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“That's more opportunity for people to go in, especially with football now,” Demilt said. “You know, go in, turn on the game, go get some food and watch the games.”
Demilt also appreciates food variety, quality and staff interaction when it comes to campus dining.
“I’ve never really had complaints with quality and there's a variety of options for me to choose,” he said. “[Dining employees are] always saying ‘Hi’ and have a smile on their face and are never hesitant to help if I have any questions.”
Glatfelter, a 31-year veteran within the dining industry who is in his third year at UR, said campus food operations are always looking for ways to meet student needs and preferences.
“We're here to serve you,” he said. “We listen to what the students want, and we try to adjust.”
Contact news writer Julian Francis at julian.francis@richmond.edu and news writer Blake Ryan at blake.ryan@richmond.edu
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