The Handschumacher Dining Center is to be closed for a refresh beginning this fall, Drexel University has confirmed to the Triangle. The Urban Eatery and other dining locations will continue to operate as normal. A university-wide email is expected this week.
“The decision to temporarily close was informed by several factors, including location popularity, proximity to residence halls and renovation needs. Future plans for Handschumacher will be shared with the campus community,” Britt Faulstick, executive director of media relations, told the Triangle.
Drexel Campus Dining is managed by Philadelphia-based food service giant Aramark through its Collegiate Hospitality division.
The dining hall had been absent from the Campus Dining website going into fall term, prompting speculation.
It is not immediately clear whether first-year enrollment has played a role in the decision; the university did not address enrollment in its comment.
“Drexel Campus Dining remains committed to delivering an exceptional dining experience. Even with Handschumacher being temporarily closed this year, our dining program has the capacity to serve all students and provide a wide variety of options. Urban Eatery – our primary dining location – situated near residence halls and the campus center, will serve as the central hub for meals,” Faulstick told the Triangle.
Hans has already undergone a service transformation in recent years. Previously an “all-you-care-to-eat” dining center like Urban Eatery, and also featuring rotating menu stations, its dinner service pivoted to a Grubhub-based mobile ordering point called “the Drop” in recent years. However, the dimly-lit decor is undoubtedly deserving of its own refresh.