KASEY BALL, Reveille Radio Reporter:
The LSU student Union Tiger Lair has been full of sights and sounds this year as contractors work day in and day out on large scale renovations.
Union director Shirley Plakidas says that the contract is due to be finished in mid-April, and the Tiger Lair will once again be fully operational as soon as the individual retailers complete construction. The Tiger Lair will boast several new retailers, as well as an old favorite or two.
SHIRLEY PLAKIDAS (Union Director): “We have a CC’s that just opened right next to the center lounge in the Union. Eventually, next to them will be a pizza outlet, Quiznos, what used to be Louisiana classics is now being called Bayou Bistro, there is a Salsarita’s, a Panda Express, Chick-Fil-A is back, Jamba Juice, and something called On-the-Go.”
BALL: In addition to the new retailers, the updated Tiger Lair will get rid of what  Plakidas called a “corral system,” and will offer a cash register at each outlet to promote smoother traffic flow.
PLAKIDAS: “In this configuration, each unit stands alone. Each unit has its own cash register. This should shorten the lines for people and make it much faster for them to go through.”
BALL: Another new feature is the option for each retailer to have its own hours of operation.
PLAKIDAS: “They will also have the capability of having individual operating hours. In the old configuration, if you opened up one, you basically had to open up the whole food court. But this will have individually managed units that can open up whatever hours of operation are in demand.”
BALL: Although construction is ongoing and there is not a set date for the reopening, the renovated Tiger Lair looks to be well worth the wait.
Kasey Ball, Reveille Radio News.