Sarah Mead
Staff Writer
smead@murraystate.edu
Murray State’s contract partner Sodexo has opened four new restaurants in the Curris Center this fall, including Starbucks, Steak ‘n Shake, SubConnection and Tres Habaneros.
Some students have mixed feelings about the new restaurants on campus. While the new options are advantageous for students who only eat on campus, some are concerned about how the increase of corporate brands will affect the University’s atmosphere.
“It seems like there are a lot more companies coming onto campus, which is nice for people who don’t have access to [those restaurants],” said Emily Harper, junior from Paris, Tennessee. “[However,] there’s something about the mixing of corporations [and education] that rubs me the wrong way.”
Some students think the influx of corporate restaurants could affect local businesses. A large portion of coffee drinkers meet at places off campus like Shaffer Coffee Co. or Fifth and Main. A new Starbucks franchise could negatively affect the local food and drink options.
“I think [the new restaurants] are nice, but some of the homey feel has left the campus because of them,” said Jessica Free, senior from Puryear, Tennessee.
Starbucks, located in the area of the Curris Center known as the Dance Lounge, offers hot and iced coffee, as well as lunch and breakfast items in the bakery. Starbucks is open from 7:30 a.m. through 7 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturdays.
Other students are concerned the location of the new businesses could interfere with social distancing guidelines.
“I don’t think people are doing enough [social distancing],” Free said. “People are crowding me and other people. They aren’t listening to the dots on the floor and it makes me uncomfortable.”
In order to comply with social distancing guidelines, changes have been made to the layout of the Curris Center and Thoroughbred Room to accommodate customers. GrubHub, a food delivery service, is also available to students, allowing for advance ordering and pick-up options.
“Seating in all the dining locations will be supplemented with additional new outdoor seating and tables with chairs in Curris Center and residence halls,” according to the Racer Restart Plan. “Dining facilities will be marked with signage to help maintain distances between customers. Employees are trained in the most up-to-date serving protocols to provide safe and healthy dining experiences.”
While the restaurants are all located in the same building, they are spread across two floors and have varying business hours.
Steak ‘n Shake is located in the T-Room on the third floor of the Curris Center. The menu offers a limited selection of meals and milkshakes. Steak ‘n Shake is open on weekdays from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. and from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. later in the evening.
SubConnection offers sandwiches, wraps and salads. At SubConnection, students can choose from a variety of sandwich options or from the signature menu. The restaurant also offers a build-your-own salad option. Also found in the T-Room, SubConnection is open only on weekdays from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.
The other new addition to the T-Room is Tres Habaneros, a restaurant that serves burritos, tacos, quesadillas, rice and salad bowls. Tres Habaneros is open Monday through Friday, with lunch hours from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The restaurant is also open in the evenings from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m. for the dinner crowd.
Of the new restaurants that opened this fall, Tres Habaneros is the only option that accepts swipes from the regular all-access meal plan. It and the other three restaurants also accept Flex dollars and premium meal exchanges from the premium meal plan, as well as cash, credit, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Detailed menus for the three restaurants can be found here.