After a review of restaurant operations by University of Oklahoma Housing and Food Services, new food service features will be available for faculty, staff and students this spring, and two restaurants will close due to low traffic.
The popular counter-service eatery Crossroads Restaurant, located in the Oklahoma Memorial Union, will now have extended hours over the weekends. Crossroads will be open from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Saturdays. Students also will be able to use meal exchange all day. These new offerings are effective starting Monday.
In another change to OMU restaurants, the Jan Marie and Richard J. Crawford University Club, located on the second floor of OMU, will re-open on Jan. 22 with service to anyone with an OU ID card, including students. Patrons will be able to pay with cash or credit, and students with meal plans and points will be able to redeem them there. New menu items will include fresh bakery items, a variety of breakfast choices and lunch offerings that include sandwiches and power bowls. Coffee drinks and tea choices also will be available.
The review looked at 28 university restaurants to evaluate profitability, location, operations and traffic. Of the 28 restaurants, Elements Cafe, located in the Stephenson Life Science Research Center, and the Charles W. Graham Café, located in the lower level of Gould Hall, will not reopen on Monday.
“Our goal for this review was to ensure we maintain our focus on keeping tuition and housing rates stable, while at the same time providing services students and the college community enjoy,” said Ken Rowe, OU senior vice president and chief financial officer. Rowe indicated no employees will be affected by the closures as they will be transferred to other high-demand restaurants in the system.
“Our analysis revealed which restaurants were both unprofitable and low in customer traffic. We have hope these changes will have minimal impact on students and the college community,” said Frank Henry, director of food services.