New southwestern restaurant to debut on campus next year

Georgia College & State University students will soon have another dining option on campus. Auxiliary Services is presently awaiting health department approval to begin renovation for Burrito Outfitters, a new Southwest-style restaurant that will replace The Cellar in Sanford Hall.

Progress on the restaurant has been hindered by Milledgeville Health Department requirements, specifically concerning the exhaust system and grease trap. The Health Department requires a 1,000 pound capacity grease trap as a standard for all restaurants.

Kyle Cullars, director of Auxiliary Services, calls the requirement “overkill for the situation.”

Such change to the facilities would require digging up the area where the reflecting pool is now located, adding more cost to an already expensive endeavor.

Auxiliary Services has requested that the city manager explore other options to remedy the situation, Cullars said. Such options include a smaller, in-line grease trap.

“Assuming that approval is granted within a week or so, we could be open by January. No schedule is definite at this point, however, given the matter with the city,” Cullars said.

Despite the delay, students are excited about the prospect of a new restaurant. Brian Grooms, a junior mass communication major, likes the idea of a full service restaurant instead of a coffee shop.

“I would definitely go to that. I think it would provide a more convivial atmosphere,” Grooms said. “Burritos are good.”

Alex King, a junior mass communication major, agreed that a restaurant in the area is needed.

“When I was in the dorms, I was hoping that they would put something in there. I thought that they were going to reopen The Cellar. I think this is a better idea,” King said.

Cullars said that the new restaurant is in response to student demand.

“It will provide food in that area where there is none now. It also responds to students requests,” Cullars said. “There is an interest in Mexican food and also food at a lower price point.”

“I like the lower prices for sure, (and) it’s good to have variety,” said Jill Thomas, a sophomore biology major.

The restaurant will likely be open seven days a week from lunch until as late as midnight or 1 a.m., depending on student demand.

“We try to open first with extended hours, and if sales don’t support it, we kind of back off,” Cullars said.

Burrito Outfitters will also offer delivery to on-campus residence halls and Bobcat Village.

Cullars hopes that the new eatery will be more profitable than The Cellar, which operated at a loss. He cited little demand and poor location as problems for the coffee shop.

“(The Cellar) was a very popular hangout. It was not popular in terms of profitability,” Cullars said.

Auxillary Services has hired Frank Pendergast to manage the restaurant. Pendergast is part owner of The Brick, Buffington’s and Blackbird Coffee in downtown Milledgeville.

“Frank has a proven track record of successful food service in Milledgeville, and with students in particular. He knows our market well, and his operation should be very popular with our students,” Cullars said.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Nov 4 2005. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry