Mason Dining

Student-run websites provide alternatives to find dining and laundry availability

If time is money, then these three students are out to save a couple bucks.

Tyler Hallada, Garrett McNamara and Aaron Hunter have created alternatives to Mason Dining’s Hours of Operation and eSuds websites in order to quickly convey information to busy students.

Hallada, a junior at Northeastern University and former Mason student, created GMU Laundry, a website that provides washer and dryer availability details for Mason’s laundry rooms.

Students protest upcoming renovations to Ike’s

As the university prepares to renovate Ike’s, the late-night diner located in Presidents’ Park, some students are not so eager to see the changes.

Early in the 2013 spring semester, rising sophomores Jared Donohue and Rich Dillon worked together to rally support against the renovations under the campaign “Save Ike’s.”

Sodexo and other company present competing visions for Mason Dining

Two dining companies, Sodexo and Chartwells, gave bid presentations on Dec. 5 outlining each company’s vision for the dining future they would offer at George Mason University.

Dining contracts last five years, and include a renewal option at the end of agreement. Sodexo’s contract expires this January.

Nutritional dining facility opens in Southside

Adding a fresh and unique concept to college dining halls, Mason Dining has received excellent feedback about Peak Performance, their newest addition to Southside.

On Nov. 19, Mason Dining held a grand opening for Peak Performance in Southside, which brought together President Angel Cabrera, various Mason Athletics coaches, members of Mason Dining, and student-athletes.

According to Ram Nabar, Mason Dining’s resident district manager, Peak Performance was a collaborative effort between Mason Dining and Mason’s athletic department.

Einstein Bros. Bagel opens new location in University Hall

On Friday, Oct. 26 Einstein Bros. Bagels opened in University Hall on George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.

 Manager Vada Smith said the opening went well despite closing earlier than normal business hours and not having the LED sign up until Nov. 6. Smith is confident that people will take advantage of their location because of its size and surrounding. 

“We have lots of space set up for laptops, and with all the [surrounding] administration, people would want to come spend time here,” Smith said. 

Mason Dining makes changes across campus

Anyone who has explored George Mason University’s Fairfax campus over the past few years has noticed continual changes in the dining options. This year is no exception.

An Einstein Bros. Bagels has been added to Mason’s Fairfax campus, located in the Engineering Building. Mason Dining’s Resident District Manager Ram Nabar stated there will be another Einstein Bros. Bagels open for business, tentatively by Oct. 22, in University Hall.

OPINION: The disparity between Fairfax campus growth and dining hall capacity

In the fall of 2009, George Mason University was classified as a commuter campus. Now, four years later in the fall of 2012, much at Mason has changed. The university has seen a monumental change in its identity. New administrative buildings and residential halls have grown up from empty spaces. Former parking lots and buildings have been gutted and reinvented completely. Although it has been a somewhat cumbersome process, the campus has entered a new phase in its life--that of a residential campus beginning to forge its own unique identity.

New restaurants to open in Johnson Center

Beginning this fall the Johnson Center will look a little different to returning students, as George Mason University Dining will open three new restaurants.

Among the new restaurants in the Johnson Center will be Red Hot & Blue, Hot Spot and a salad station. The name of the salad station is being voted for on Mason Dining’s Facebook page. As of July 2nd, “Garden Spot” is the top choice with 20 votes, followed by “Sprouts” and “Sea of Green.”

Hot Spot finding success in space last occupied by burrito joint

Mason’s newest lunchtime-only dining option, Hot Spot, has resurrected once “unutilized” space.

Located in SUB I, between Chick-fil-A and the Rathskellar, Hot Spot is a new dining concept that offers a different type of cuisine each week. Food choices at Hot Spot are determined by polls conducted on the Mason Dining Facebook page.

Einstein Bros. Bagels to arrive in April

The upcoming arrival of a new Einstein Bros. Bagels to the Fairfax campus marks the beginning of an expansion of dining options near the Southeast neighborhood.

The bagel eatery, set to open April 1 in the Nyugen Engineering building, will offer a full menu of soups, salads and bagel varieties while doubling as a coffee shop.

Mark Kraner, executive director of campus retail operations, said the new dining option comes in response to an expressed need for more dining facilities close to President’s Park.