Starting this Friday, the menu of Lydia’s Lounge will feature a menu geared toward students with a sweet tooth. Leaving behind traditional late night greasy foods, the lounge will now be filled with desserts.
“We are trying to make this a destination spot, something different and new,” said Director of Dining Services Ron Gibson. “We certainly do not want to compete with Center Court.”
The idea was conceived during a Student Senate meeting, and freshman Holly Alquire has made it a personal project to bring more sweet treats to campus.
“On campus we only have a little bit of dessert,” Alguire said. “And on the weekend, we don’t Lhave many places that serve pastry treats. It would be nice to have something on campus that gave students access to those kinds of treats. Ron [Gibson] said he thought it was worth a shot and we can try it as long as we let everyone know.”
Last week Alguire, a business administration and management major and a friend, Ilia Medina, met with Gibson and proposed the idea as a solution to help draw more students to Lydia’s Lounge.
“I think it is a great idea,” Gibson said. “It’s something new and different from the typical fast food late night fare. We certainly do not have anything in the area like this concept and who doesn’t like desserts?”
After Alguire met with the Executive Chef Josh Wraight, they agreed on offering a variety of late-night desserts from chocolate cake to truffles to cake pops to chocolate covered strawberries.
“We want to start it simple,” Alguire said. “If it does well, we’re going to add special made-to-order desserts like warm cookies with chocolate on top, milkshakes and smoothies.”
Gibson said Alguire has taken the initiative to advertise the change and get the word out to students.
“Holly is a very motivated person, and as soon as we started the discussion at the last Student Senate meeting she stepped right up. She accepted full responsibility for the great concept as well as promoting it to the students.”
Gibson said Holly and two other Senators will be at Bradley Hall today handing out coupons that students can redeem in Lydia’s Lounge for a free cookie.
Lydia’s Lounge is open from 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
