USU Dining Services closes Artist’s Block Cafe

Utah State University’s Dining Services and Caine College of the Arts are planning on some new food opportunities and changes after Artist’s Block Cafe closed during the summer.

Alan Andersen, the Dining Services executive director, said despite trying everything from being open for events and staying open later, Artist’s Block Cafe — located in the Fine Arts Visual building — just wasn’t making enough money. The Business and Finance department and the Caine College of the Arts made the decision to close the cafe.

“We were losing money pretty seriously in that location and they decided there was better use of that space than a cafe,” Andersen said. “We were told to shut ‘er down.”

Andersen said there are plans for more food opportunities in the Fine Arts buildings, including plans to expand Noni’s Coffee Shop — located in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art.

“We’ll put a cold case in Noni’s,” Andersen said. “We’re also looking at opportunities in that location to bring our food trailer there three days a week for lunchtime.”

Andersen said an honor system cold case could be put in the hallway with sushi, sandwiches and a camera to monitor payments.

USU’s director of production services Lynn Thomas said the university might use the space where Artist’s Block Cafe was for an academic advising center.

“That seems like something that would enhance each CCA student’s educational outcome so we are in the process of establishing what the cost for it might be,” Thomas said. “However, there is not yet a definitive decision on how we will use that space.”

Andersen was excited about the potential advising center, saying “It’ll still serve the students in a different way than food. It’s positive in the end.”

Many students were irritated about the cafe being closed. Oakley Gurr, an art major at USU, said the art students felt like their “art home got a major part taken out.”

“I am still upset about it,” Gurr said. “The only other place close is the museum, which is more expensive, and closes at 3 p.m. The Artist’s Block was a great place to get out of the studio for a few minutes.”

Gurr said the closing of the cafe has affected her daily life.

“I don’t have time to walk 10 minutes to the library or quad,” Gurr said. “I don’t want to speed walk across campus to have time to eat a little something, so I’ve had to meal prep and buy a large lunch box to keep myself going.”

Emma Jean, a theater education major, said the cafe was homey, comfortable and her “favorite place in the whole world to hang out.”

“It was really disappointing to see it go,” Jean said. “I think for a college that requires its students to stay and practice so much, it’s kind of ridiculous that there isn’t a place for us to eat or just sit and do homework. It was so nice to have a place with a variety of options. The only other place nearby has only a few items.”

Both Gurr and Jean were unhappy about the plans to turn the space into offices.