Following the opening of Carl’s Jr. on Thursday, the remodel of the food-service portion of the Cooperage has been completed, but its computer and video game center is months behind schedule.
The new Carl’s Jr., which is a full- menu operation, replaces a handful of smaller food concepts that had previously existed in the space, said Cindy Bolton, the director of ASUCLA restaurants.
The addition of Carl’s Jr. is a part of ASUCLA’s food service master plan to renovate its eateries on campus.
The food service master plan has seen the implementation of the new and expanded Taco Bell in October 2007, which was followed by the Bruin Buzz cafe in October 2008. Curbside on Avenue A, a sandwich and snack food concept, opened in January 2009, Bolton said.
Carl’s Jr. was approached as the vendor for the remodeled Cooperage last fall, and preliminary discussions at last year’s ASUCLA board of directors’ meetings indicated it was to tentatively open in winter quarter of 2009.
But Bolton said a few minor delays in the construction pushed the opening back to this week.
The board decided to bring Carl’s Jr. because students surveyed indicated they wanted it in the Cooperage, said Jesse Rogel, the vice chair of the board.
“As a student, I see (Carl’s Jr.) as another affordable eatery on campus. It also adds to the breakfast options currently provided on campus,” Rogel said.
The renovation of the dining space has also been completed, with the new area constituting new furnishings, carpet and improved lighting, Bolton added.
Additionally, the addition of the media wall that plays televised events in the Cooperage has attracted a large number of viewers, she said.
Though the food service portion of the Cooperage is finished, the Game On! center remains several months behind schedule.
The Game On! center will have 10 PC gaming stations, eight Xboxes with 32-inch screens, one Playstation with a 42-inch screen and one Wii when completed, said Student Union Director Roy Champawat.
ASUCLA had planned for Game On! to be completed several months ago, but Champawat said he now expects it to open this summer.
Champawat declined to discuss the specifics of the delays, but he added that the planning, design construction and inspection of the facility took more time than expected.