Kriner Hall is the daily go-to dining option for some students, and for others it is their pick for food when Reisner Dining Hall’s menu does not look too appealing. Others never set foot in Kriner.
The building has two retail locations: Pizza Hut and King Street Subs in the front of the building. There is also an all-you-can-eat dining area located in the back. From this point forward, I am referencing only the all-you-can-eat section.
Currently, Kriner Hall is much smaller than its rivals and serves a smaller variety and food options, especially for those with dietary restrictions.
In my own opinion, Kriner’s food in comparison to Reisner’s on any given day is either substantially better or worse. It is usually a 50-50 chance.
The lack of options makes it more likely for students to not find something they would like to eat in the facility if the “main meal” is not appetizing. From discussions with students, people either love or hate the food. From what I have observed, the number of students who dine at Kriner is lower than Reisner, to the point that promotions from dining services seem to be almost non-existent at Kriner Hall. With lower enrollment, the flow of people over the past few years has visibly declined and stagnated.
The building is not centrally located on campus to major academic and student-activity buildings, unlike the Ceddia Union Building (CUB) and Reisner. It does, however, serve as a convenient location for west-campus residents and for staff and faculty in Old Main, Horton Hall and Gilbert Hall.
The building is clearly still important in campus life, however, with fewer students attending the facility the question is raised whether or not it is a wise return on investment.
Does Kriner Hall truly serve the students for the large amount of money that they put into the dining system?
I envision a different Kriner: A Kriner built more like the CUB. Kriner would be a place for a quick lunch or dinner, while still serving as a convenient location for west campus housing. I envision a renovated interior with many retail options including healthy options and national brands like Chick-fil-A.
This would be convenient, still offer a diverse variety of options to students and would do so in a manner that would offer consistency in quality and hopefully increase return on investment. Additionally, it would be extremely convenient for students living off campus in Bard Townhomes and along Middle Spring Road. Give it a thought: A different Kriner Hall.
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