Harper Syres
Various soups and macaroni and cheese are among the offerings at the Tower Cafe.
The Tower Cafe in the Arts, Sciences and Technology building is now open after more than six years of being closed. The eatery in the lobby is now open from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday and offers a variety of options following the success of the Cougar Cave in the Student Services Center building.
But what’s served at the Tower Cafe? Sean Madden, the executive manager of both the Cougar Cave, and the Tower Cafe, was happy to explain.
“Mostly grab and go sandwiches and salad. We do pizza to order,” Madden said. “I always have soup, mac and cheese on deck, coffee, beverages, candies. Pretty much everything, just a smaller version of what will be available at our primary cafe.”
Despite the relatively similar menu options to the Cougar Cave, Madden said that he found that the Tower Cafe could fill a niche that the Cougar Cave couldn’t.
“Well, I stood here one day, and I was watching a bunch of students that were all in a rush, and one of them said, ‘we wish there was something here’ they can eat,” Madden said, “and I’m a capitalist, [laugh] so I moved that information up the pole, and then we made a decision that we were going to open us up the following semester if the primary cafe was doing well.”
Students seem to agree with what Madden overheard.
Gillian Duhiame, a communication major, said that she was glad for the change.
“I think it looks good,” she said. “It has some good bakery foods I can grab on the go if I’m hungry.”
Despite the convenience, there are concerns about the prices, particularly from art student Sheela Wilkie, who gave the prices at the Tower Cafe a little push back.
“I think [the prices] are a little high, just slightly,” Wilkie said. “I paid $9 for my sandwich, and usually it would be five bucks at the grocery store… The salads are at a good price… so, I guess it just depends on what you’re getting.”
Willkie praised the utility of Tower Cafe as well.
“I think the grab-and-go style is the best part of it,” Willkie said, “being able to grab an actual meal and not just like a protein bar or something… I’ve tried so many protein bars and none of them taste good.”
To find out more about the offerings at either of the campus eateries talk to Madden, who is on duty daily at both the Cougar Cave and the Tower Café.