Cafeteria Reopens At Hunter College Under New Management

Hunter College reopened its West Building cafeteria earlier this month.

Accommodating up to 250 students, the lunchroom is located across third-floor escalators. Placed under management of Nava, a public benefit corporation, it reopened on Oct.11.

While bringing popular items back, major changes have been introduced to food choices available.

Besides providing breakfast and lunch on weekdays, the new management has now expanded the menu, replaced malfunctioning vending machines with fridges to store beverages, and will no longer serve frozen food.

“So, food is fresh, they (kitchen staff) take their time trying to make best food possible for everyone,” said Stephanie Bustamante, office manager overseeing Nava’s operations at Hunter College.

Student officials involved in shaping of renewal plans also prioritized making food options more affordable for everyone.

Comparing cafeteria costs with nearby food establishments, Ariana Ahmed, recently elected president of Undergraduate Student Government said that the cafeteria remains to be an affordable option than “Upper East Side prices.”

Students mostly visit West Building cafeteria in afternoon. Before Nava’s takeover, the lunchroom was also used as lecture hall last semester. During class hours, signs posted on doors instructed students to not enter the room with any food or beverage.

Renewal plans announced as part of this semester’s return-to-campus initiative fulfilled a long-sought demand of students. According to Ahmed, the student government from last two years consistently pushed college and CUNY officials to address complains related to cafeteria.

Regarding aftermath of reopening, both Ahmed and Ms. Bustamante shared hearing positive feedback from students.

“Right now, it’s the ninth time there’s a rush of students. Thursdays are busiest and also Mondays. It’s looking like we may need more people back there,” said Ms. Bustamante.

Despite modifications, challenges remain. Not everyone is appreciating the new management.

Jose Sanchez frequently visits cafeteria. A sophomore majoring in Environmental Studies, he often posts cafeteria food reviews on his Instagram account.

“Its quality is not the best, but for college I guess, it’s also very expensive,” said Sanchez.

Other than criticizing food quality and high pricing, he also pointed towards complications caused by lack of seating. Sharing personal experience, Sanchez mentioned an instance when he was left with no choice than to stand by escalators to finish his meal.

With the West Building cafeteria opened, Hunter College now has two active cafeterias. Other one is World Cup Cafe, located on third floor of East Building. Unlike its larger counterpart, it offers a smaller seating area and serves limited items such as coffees, sandwiches, and empanadas.

Nevertheless, both cafeterias continue to have inadequate seating to during afternoon rush hours. Upon finding tables occupied, students often seek accommodations elsewhere such as floors of campus corridors.

“It’s just Hunter cafeteria magic I guess,” added Sanchez, describing overcrowded conditions.