A.J.’s Café will now remain open during the entirety of Hillsdale summer sessions.
The idea arose during a conversation between Bon Appétit’s General Manager David Apthorpe and Dean of Women Diane Philipp. They discussed their interest in catering to the students staying for summer classes.
Apthorpe said he believes this change will be a way to improve Bon Appétit as a whole. He is excited about involving the Bon Appétit staff, who will be serving at A.J.’s during the summer sessions. The goal is to have the menu grow as the summer progresses in order to provide more choices for the students.
“This is a good opportunity for our chefs to play with the space, experiment, and see what’s good for next year,” Apthorpe said. “This will be a learning experience, but people are excited about it.”
A.J.’s will remain open for breakfast and lunch while students are on campus for classes. Apthorpe said that Bon Appétit will utilize the salad mobile upstairs in order to provide a salad bar as well. Philipp said she believes there are many benefits to opening A.J.’s for summer sessions.
“This will be a good way to provide meals for students living in the dorms during summer sessions,” Philipp said. “Not every student lives off campus, and this will make it more convenient for those who do not.”
She also stated the economic and social benefits.
“A.J.’s remaining open will keep staff employed,” Philipp said. “Also, students hang out in the union anyway. Adding the food aspect will only promote more community.”
Philipp pointed out that A.J.’s will not only provide food for students, but also opportunities for summer staff.
“Hey, even I’ll go over and get a salad,” Philipp said.
A.J.’s will be open from Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 11 through June 19. Students participating in summer classes can add money to their Charger Change account via credit/debit card or cash before May 1 and receive a 15 percent discount.
A.J.’s has also recently added a full-time option to their menu: quesadillas — served all day, every day. Freshman Cassidy Syftestad, A.J.’s employee, is happy about the addition.
“I am excited about the change they made regarding quesadillas,” Syftestad said in an email. “The service time has been extended as a treat for students during their final few weeks on campus. It is my favorite food to order at the café and now I can order it in the evenings when I am studying.”
Syftestad even thinks that this change could help A.J.’s business.
“I would say it has potential to bring in more evening business,” Syftestad said in an email. “It has been a popular order so far. Quesadillas are cheap, quick, and great to eat.”
Philipp said a survey regarding A.J.’s service will be released soon. This will allow students to give suggestions for even more improvement.
“Bon Appétit is so accommodating,” Philipp said. “Students give suggestions often, and they are always willing to improve.”
Philipp said she hopes that A.J.’s summer session service will prove very beneficial to the summer community.
“We’re trying to help as many students as we can,” Philipp said. “Students are so inundated with emails that this information is easy to miss. We hope that through the Collegian, the word will get out.”
