Monday, Mar 25, 2019
Cranberry's to feature kiosk and online ordering, while Pub will become sit-down restaurant
by Rachel Stengel '14
When students return to campus for the fall 2019 semester, two central dining locations on Rider's Lawrenceville campus will have completely different looks inside and out.
Cranberry's will be expanded and redesigned with an open-concept, circular layout, while the Pub will transform into a sit-down restaurant. Both will feature wooden accents and bright pops of color, along with increased seating. The glass dividers separating Cranberry's from the Pub will serve as more than just a design aesthetic; they will open like garage doors to allow free flow between the rooms. Outside, a new pergola with an acrylic canopy will allow for outdoor dining no matter the weather.
Renovations to the 10,600-square-foot space will begin immediately following final exams in May.
"We want to modernize the spaces, and we also want them to meet students' needs and make them more conducive to holding events," says Mike Reca, vice president for facilities and university operations.
In Cranberry's, food service stations will be located in the center of the space where a variety of cuisines will be available for purchase with Bronc Bucks, cash or credit. Pizza, pasta, noodle bowls, tacos, salads, grain bowls and grilled and fried staples like burgers, fries and chicken fingers will be on the everyday menu, while special pop-up menus with new options will occur throughout the year. Diners will be able to order via kiosks and through an app on their phones. Mobile orders will be stored in secured food lockers until students arrive to pick up their food.
The current faculty and staff dining room will be converted into a lounge where faculty and staff can enjoy the same food options but have a separate space to dine if they choose.
The Pub will have traditional bar-style seating, lounge seating and restaurant-style tables and chairs. For alumni who remember the Pub's signature wooden boards — where many carved their names as a memento — they will be preserved and stored on campus. Diners will be able to order from a chef-inspired menu, featuring an array of high-quality meals as well as more traditional bar fair. Table-side service will also be available.
"We want to transform the Pub into a space where students can enjoy both classic bar foods like chicken wings and fries but also have the ability to order high-quality salads, sandwiches and more," Reca says.
Renovations to Cranberry's and the Pub are part of a series of campus-wide renovations. Other recent projects include renovations to the Bart Luedeke Center, Sweigart Hall, the Science and Technology Center, and the Wright and Ridge residence halls. Kroner Hall is currently under construction and will be complete by the summer, while Lake House and the Delta Phi Epsilon sorority house will be renovated this summer.