New cafes, retail options debut this fall

The menu of campus dining options is getting a makeover this fall, with new facilities and options both on campus and off.

On campus, two new cafés offer light fare and a place to relax.

One is Mark’s Café at Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, on the lower level next to the Rosengarten Reserve Room. Laurie Cousart, contract and relationship manager for Campus Dining, described the eatery as “a new Eurostyle espresso bar and café, serving espresso beverages, smoothies and salads, sandwiches and desserts from Houston Market.” The café, set to open in mid-September, will have early morning and late night hours. It is named for Mark Goldstein (C’83), son of Library Overseer Bernard Goldstein (W’53).

The other is the Coffee Café at Accenture Cyberlounge, in the Towne Building next to the Levine Hall entrance. Besides coffee, sandwiches and snacks from Houston Market, the café offers Ethernet and wireless data connections for PennKey holders. The facility is open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

Houston Market itself also has a new dining option—the Noodle Bar, in the space formerly occupied by Global Fusion. Fresh made-to-order sushi and noodle bowls are the specialties of this station.

Campus Dining also now has a dedicated kosher dining facility, in the new Hillel building, Steinhardt Hall (see “Facilities,” page 1). The kitchen will also produce kosher items to go for Houston Hall and the new convenience store in Class of 1920 Commons.

Commons is the site of the biggest changes, according to Cousart. A top-to-bottom renovation has also transformed the middle floor into a convenience store and food court featuring Chick-Fil-A, Subway, Freshëns smoothies and ice cream and Java City coffee.

“Our market data show that students want a lot of grab-and-go [items], the closer to their College House the better,” she said.

All Campus Dining facilities are open to the entire Penn community.

Other changes set for later this fall include a new diner in Stouffer Triangle run by Campus Dining, a Marathon Grill at 40th and Walnut and a retail establishment in the Stouffer shopping arcade.

One familiar dining institution departed over the summer: the Palladium and Gold Standard restaurants in the ARCH, 36th Street and Locust Walk, closed at the end of July. Their space will be used by performing arts groups this fall and will become classroom space later in the year. The Palladium owners opened a new Italian restaurant, Abbraccio, at 47th Street and Warrington Avenue in August; Gold Standard delivery service is available from the new location.