The University of Connecticut’s Hartford campus is expected to open its first dining cafe in the Hartford Times Building on Sept. 15.
The cafe will feature “a hot and cold food display, a point-of-sale station, a beverage station and a selection of pre-made soups, salads and sandwiches,” according to the University Planning, Design and Construction’s quarterly construction status report, released on June 30.
The estimated project cost for this cafe is $851,620.66, according to the report.
The dining hall-cafe hybrid will mimic the UConn Avery Point campus’ Mort’s Cafe, featuring UConn Grab and Go meal options as well as hot meal options that will be a part of a meal plan and points-based system, according to Thomas Dowd, the manager of the cafe.
Dowd has been working for UConn Dining Services at the Storrs campus for 13 years and has transitioned to the Hartford campus to manage the Hartford Times Cafe.
“Our goal is to open on Monday the 15th, and I think it’s still doable,” Dowd said. “At the very least we will, [we] might not be opening full steam, but we will be open on Monday. We’re hoping to have everything that we can offer on Monday, but it all depends on things falling in place.”
Dowd explained that the cafe did not open at the start of the fall semester due to manufacturing and shipping delays that delayed the delivery of the main counter pieces. He continued by saying that even with these delays, the staff began preparing for the cafe’s opening, taking a focus on food offerings and sustainable packaging.
Dowd ensured the inclusion of halal certified proteins and gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options to be available for students and community members accessing the cafe.
“We take a lot of pride in being able to handle people’s dietary needs…we will be offering something across the board and if it’s something we can’t do, we will try and get it done,” Dowd said.
The cafe will be green certified, meaning it follows the food sustainability efforts set by the university to produce less food waste and minimize excess packaging.
Once opened, the cafe will serve not only UConn students, faculty and staff, but also Hartford community members.
“We want to become part of the community…we will be partnering with some area restaurants and food manufacturers, and we will feature their items in the cafe,” Dowd said.
Fire by Forge is one of many popular local businesses in the downtown Hartford area that will be featured in the cafe.
“It’s a space for people to eat, but it’s also going to be a space for the community to gather around,” Mark Overmyer-Velazquez, UConn Hartford’s campus dean and chief administrative officer, said. “It’s going to shift and create even more of a community feel on our campus, I suspect.”
There had been thoughts about expanding dining options to the Hartford campus during the construction of the downtown location in 2017.
“When this campus was built and designed, there were some initial plans to put in a cafeteria in the space where it is now,” Dowd said. “But it was determined, this is before my time, that again, students could find food off-campus., Which, of course, never happened in any meaningful way.”
Many of the available food options that surrounded the regional campus had high price points and minimal varieties of options that weren’t accommodating students, Overmyer-Velazquez said.
Since the construction of the Hartford Times Cafe, discussions of continuing to expand dining services have sparked again.
“There is certainly a possibility of needing to expand dining services in Hartford, and that’s just the beginning. [It is] uncertain at this point, but we’re thinking about it,” Overmyer-Velazquez said.
The cafe’s staff currently consists of 18 workers, with nine full-time positions and nine student employee positions.
“I wish we had more positions here, and maybe we will, depending on business,” Dowd said. “I hope we have to add more positions and if we do, it will be students.”
While Dowd emphasized the potential for student job opportunities, he also highlighted the enthusiasm the community has shown for the new cafe.
“Everybody I’ve talked to is excited about it and can’t wait, and I can’t wait to deliver it to them,” Dowd said.