2008 Woodie Awards
Bids for food vendors in process
924160278@gsc.edu
Allie Jackson
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Campus Life
In the past, Gainesville State College had an institution cafeteria. It wasn't until about 10 years ago that the college began leasing the cafeteria out. Jackie Mauldin, director of auxiliary services at GSC said that since then, the college has had about four different vendors and currently the next vendor has not been chosen, and the cafeteria will not reopen until construction is almost complete.
"The bookstore and the cafeteria are one of the last sections that will be completed," Mauldin said. "We don't know exactly who will run it."
The college is currently taking bids from vendors that are interested in running the cafeteria and at the time of the interview it was unknown whether or not Elegant Expressions was included in the bid process. Mauldin said that Elegant Expressions' contract ended after the fall semester.
With the current construction going on in the Student Center the cafeteria will remained closed for some time. "It'll be at least next fall or later," Mauldin said. In order to compensate for the closing, GSC has added vending machines to the student center to help off set not having a food service. There is also the recent addition of the Café'Ine Cafe stand owned by alumni Trey Greene and Eric Kriel.
Café'Ine offers a variety of hot drinks such as espresso, coffees and hot teas. There are also cold sub sandwiches available for purchase such as turkey and ham and a variety of pastries. Mauldin was not sure whether or not Cafe'Ine would stay after construction is complete, or whether it would relocate somewhere on campus.
Cara Skeat, director of student life and orientation said that once the Student Center renovations are complete, students should have a wide variety of foods to choose from. "In the new building we will have a renovated kitchen and food sales area, so hopefully we will be able to offer a wide range of breakfast and lunch options," said Skeat. "The vendor who will occupy that space will be selected in a bid process, just like Elegant Expressions was last year," she said. "This means that different food service businesses would write up a proposal of what they could offer, and our Business Affairs division will make the final decision about who will receive the food service contract for the new building," said Skeat.
Mauldin said that several fast food restaurants were approached about setting up vendor stands, but they haven't responded.
"I'm not ruling it out," said Mauldin. "It's still possible that people are interested and are still working out the logistics, but so far the only company that has responded is the one we have now," she said.
"The bookstore and the cafeteria are one of the last sections that will be completed," Mauldin said. "We don't know exactly who will run it."
The college is currently taking bids from vendors that are interested in running the cafeteria and at the time of the interview it was unknown whether or not Elegant Expressions was included in the bid process. Mauldin said that Elegant Expressions' contract ended after the fall semester.
With the current construction going on in the Student Center the cafeteria will remained closed for some time. "It'll be at least next fall or later," Mauldin said. In order to compensate for the closing, GSC has added vending machines to the student center to help off set not having a food service. There is also the recent addition of the Café'Ine Cafe stand owned by alumni Trey Greene and Eric Kriel.
Café'Ine offers a variety of hot drinks such as espresso, coffees and hot teas. There are also cold sub sandwiches available for purchase such as turkey and ham and a variety of pastries. Mauldin was not sure whether or not Cafe'Ine would stay after construction is complete, or whether it would relocate somewhere on campus.
Cara Skeat, director of student life and orientation said that once the Student Center renovations are complete, students should have a wide variety of foods to choose from. "In the new building we will have a renovated kitchen and food sales area, so hopefully we will be able to offer a wide range of breakfast and lunch options," said Skeat. "The vendor who will occupy that space will be selected in a bid process, just like Elegant Expressions was last year," she said. "This means that different food service businesses would write up a proposal of what they could offer, and our Business Affairs division will make the final decision about who will receive the food service contract for the new building," said Skeat.
Mauldin said that several fast food restaurants were approached about setting up vendor stands, but they haven't responded.
"I'm not ruling it out," said Mauldin. "It's still possible that people are interested and are still working out the logistics, but so far the only company that has responded is the one we have now," she said.
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