Einstein Bros. Bagels held its grand opening Wednesday in the Phyllis P. Marshall Center, marking perhaps the most noticeable change in USF dining since Sodexho lost its contract to Aramark last year.

The bagel shop replaces the MC Café, which was shut down in late November so construction of its replacement could begin.

The addition of Einstein’s follows last semester’s installment of Natural Selection, a health food store in the Marshall Center and Pan Geos pasta in the Tampa Room.

The Campus View Restaurant, which sits atop the Marshall Center, was supposed to re-open at the start of this semester as On Top of the Palms, boasting improved service and more comfortable seating. But delays have set back its opening to late January.

In addition to renovating other eateries around campus, USF Dining Services will also open a Ben & Jerry’s and a Burger King possibly in the next year.

The cost of the dining improvement project is $7 million, said Robin Crouch, marketing manager for USF Dining Services.

She said the money is being invested by Aramark as part of its contract with the university. The cost of student meal plans, which help pay for labor and food costs, will not be affected by the changes.

USF Dining Services is also developing a plan to install a sports grill in the Marshall Center than would serve beer and wine, marking the first time an on-campus eatery did that since The Empty Keg, a pizzeria that was housed in the Marshall Center basement during the’70s and ’80s.

Other projects include the elimination of Crossroads cafeteria in the Argos Center during the summer. The cafeteria will become Fresh Foods Company, and will feature a large, circle-shaped buffet.

In the summer of 2004, the cafeteria in Andros will also be renovated, Crouch said.

compiled by Ryan Meehan