This academic year marked the addition of new food venues on campus and the grand re-opening of Tiger Lair on the second floor of the Student Union.
Tiger Lair was closed at the end of the fall 2009 semester, and locations gradually re-opened throughout this semester.
The newly renovated food court now houses Community Coffee, Papa John’s Pizza, Panda Express, Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, Jamba Juice, Chick-fil-A, Quiznos, Bayou Bistreaux and an On-the-Geaux convenience store.
The new Tiger Lair operates similarly to a mall food court — each restaurant is an individual unit, said David Heidke, LSU Dining director.
“In the old configuration, if you opened up one, you basically had to open the whole food court,” Union Director Shirley Plakidas told The Daily Reveille on Feb. 2.
Community Coffee was the first Tiger Lair location to open on Jan. 31, and Chick-fil-A was the final on March 28.
Tiger Lair was projected to open during the fall semester, Plakidas told The Daily Reveille on Aug. 22.
Heidke said the Tiger Lair incurs more than 3,000 transactions per day, as compared to the 1,000 transactions per day in November 2009 at the older site.
Heidke said even with heavy Tiger Lair traffic, LSU Dining’s other locations have not experienced much decline in business.
“We think we’ll see that trend continue to increase,” Heidke said. “Opening late in the semester was a challenge because students have already established their lunch habits. We’ll have a new group of freshmen in the fall, so we’ll have the opportunity to set their habits.”
The Magnolia Room on the third floor of the Union opened in October 2010 after fall 2009 closure. The restaurant is open for lunch Monday through Friday.
“I’m really happy about everything opening,” said Shelly Baker, fashion merchandising freshman. “It took a long time, but it was worth it. It’s so convenient.”
Chick-N-Grill, a “fast casual” chicken restaurant, was also added Jan. 31 at the former Pierre’s Landing food mart across from Patrick Taylor Hall.
 
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Contact Emily Herrington at [email protected]