Hub makeover to improve service

After 12 years of operation, the Hub is getting a makeover, shuffling some locations and adding new menu items.

The most noticeable change is the movement of the Taco Time location from the southeast end of the Hub to the back end near the Bookstore, a location that has been largely underused, said Alan Andersen, director of Food and Dining Services.

Responsible for the original construction of the Hub, a conversion from the existing bowling alley and pool hall, Andersen said the purpose of the original design was to allow sales from both sides of the Hub, with Pizza Hut being the occupant of that area. But over time, the space was not maximized, creating inefficiency on both inside and outside the Hub, Andersen said.

It was time for a makeover.

Amber Schoenfeld, operations manager of the Hub, said when she was hired to her position two years ago, she wanted to “give the Hub a new feeling and give students more options.

“The first thing I wanted to do was Taco Time, I wanted to improve the efficiency of that,” Schoenfield said. “The area it was in was really small, so it was hard to get a lot of people in there to keep on top of everything.”

The Taco Time in the Hub is a franchise owned and operated by USU, Andersen said, and the corporate headquarters worked closely with him and Schoenfield to make the new location recognizable and a part of the Taco Time brand.

“All the paint colors were determined by Taco Time,” Andersen said. “They worked very closely with us in developing the outside image. They’re concerned about brand image. I was a little concerned when they came to me with the schematics and the primary color was safety yellow. I think it adds some excitement to the hallway.”

Schoenfield said one of the benefits to Taco Time was the creation of a new fryer to cook fried foods within 30 feet of the new location. Before the reconstruction, Taco Time utilized a fryer at the other end of the Hub, creating extra wait time for Hub customers, she said.

“It’s so much better than the old location. It’s a lot easier,” Schoenfield said.

But the movement of Taco Time is just phase one of many changes to the Hub, Andersen said. Currently the old location of Taco Time is empty, but by the first week of February, Road Runner Wraps should be open for business, he said.

Andersen said Road Runner Wraps was originally part of the Carousel, the eatery that was located where the Aggie Marketplace currently exists. But when the Marketplace was built, Roadrunner Wraps was moved to the Hub and incorporated with Hazel’s, he said.

“I didn’t like that because it diluted the Hazel’s product,” Andersen said.

Another change to the Hub is the change of the pizza vendor. Pizza Hut was the primary source for pizza for many years, but a contractual issue with the pizza giant led the Hub to bring in Freschetta pizza as a replacement that “wasn’t as good of an option,” Schoenfield said. The new product is a USU creation, with the recipe coming from Schoenfield herself. The new pizza is sold by the slice, providing a different price point for customers, Andersen said.

Also included with the new pizza are many pasta options that are also remnants of the extinct Carousel, Schoenfield said.

“The pasta has been down here since the Carousel closed but nobody knew. It wasn’t very obvious before,” Schoefield said.

Andersen said the construction was initially planned to be completed over Christmas break but decided he would “rather do (the changes) well than fast.”

-seth.h@aggiemail.usu.edu

The Hub has received a makeover to better utilize the space available and to improve the service offered to students. Changes include the relocation of Taco Time. It is now on the backside near the Bookstore.