As the fall 2017 semester begins, students are greeted with the opening of four new dining options in the LSU Student Union: The Big Squeezy, Build Pizza by Design, Create Chop’d & Wrap’d, and Redstick EATS. 

The Big Squeezy is a local Baton Rouge juice bar joining On-The-Geaux in the Tiger Lair.

Build Pizza by Design is a new dining option that allows students to create and personalize a pizza from a variety of ingredients or purchase a pre-made pizza for a quicker dining option.

Create Chop’d & Wrap’d is an option offering salads, wraps, and baked potatoes. This concept also offers students choices of local salad dressings. 

Redstick EATS offers different local dishes throughout the week, including a daily po-boy.

Margot Carroll, the assistant vice president of Auxiliary Services said the new concepts were implemented to provide healthier and more local dining options.

Carroll said Build, Create and Red Stick EATS replaced Papa John’s, Chick-N-Grill, French Quarter Café and Bayou Bistro. She also said The Big Squeezy with City Gelato will join On-The-Geaux.

“We wanted to provide options that were in line with the feedback we received from students for fresh, healthy, local, and customizable food service options,” Carroll said.

Carroll said the construction of the new dining options added extra seating and allowed the Union to work with local businesses. 

“The renovations added 100 more seats in Tiger Lair, another need we hear requested by students,” Carroll said. “The new concepts also brought new opportunities to partner with local businesses that grew from the LSU Food Incubator, such as the Big Squeezy, City Gelato’s made with local cane sugar and milk, and Hanley’s All Natural Salad Dressings at Create.” 

Students shared their feedback regarding the new options. Biology freshman Akalanka Richi Fernando said he enjoyed Build Pizza by Design despite one problem.

“I enjoyed the pizza, but the line was a bit long, but I can understand because it was a good pizza,” Fernando said. 

Animal science freshman Brigette Chevalier said there was one thing she would change about the Student Union dining options.

“That most of them would stay open a little longer. There’s only a couple that stay open later hours,” Chevalier said. 

Carroll said students should expect more reservations and additions to the Student Union.

“We have several projects underway, including upgrades in our meeting spaces, a partnership with LSU Student Government on an Interfaith Prayer and Meditation Room, and a dedicated Lactation Room on the second floor,” Carroll said. “We constantly evaluate our spaces and services to ensure we are always providing an environment that makes Tiger Life better and easier for our students.”