Upstein renovations to alter layout and vendors

Plans to change the Weinstein Food Court were announced last night at the Inter-Residence Hall Council's fall 2009 town hall meeting.

According to Owen Moore, director of dining and business development at NYU, Upstein will undergo minor renovations for better traffic flow. Moore was not present at the town hall, but Resident District Manager Eric Silver represented him at the panel.

Carmen Mayes, marketing manager of NYU Dining Services, was also absent from the meeting. But she confirmed earlier that one of the walls in Upstein will be moved to create more space, especially for students lining up to order Chick-fil-A.

According to Mayes, NYU Dining has created focus groups to gather student suggestions for changes to Upstein, including feedback on the installment of new food vendors once the contracts for Chick-fil-A and Quiznos expire.

Here are some possible changes at Upstein:

— Plans to expand the hours of operation for dining halls, including Upstein.

— Java City Eco-Grounds will be replaced by Peet's Coffee and Tea to increase the variety of pastries and baked goods. The upgrade will take place during winter break and is slated for completion during the spring semester.

— There may be an upgrade to the island in the middle of Upstein, where the salad bar is located.

— In January, new furniture will be added to Faye's on the Square.

Student opinions regarding the possible changes:

— "Chick-fil-A is definitely too crowded during rush hours, especially around lunch time," Steinhardt sophomore Kirstyn Myers said. "I think it'd really help to have more space because everyone loves Chick-fil-A."

— "If there is going to be a new food vendor, it should be a healthier one that can maybe offer soy protein burgers or organic foods," CAS senior Cara Gourley said.

— "I think Peet's Coffee is an awesome choice. I really like their Gaia organic coffee blend," LSP sophomore Won Hong said.

Jenny Tai is a staff writer.