Labeled a failed experiment, Harrison CafZ won't reopen

The facility, which opened last fall and seated only a fraction of the house's total population, did not succeed at providing quality food, Associate Vice President for Campus Services Larry Moneta said. "It was not of the quality we expect to provide to our residents," Moneta said. The food served in the facility was prepared in the Class of 1920 Commons and transported to Harrison, formerly known as High Rise South, since there was no kitchen in the cafZ itself. Officials said the lack of food preparation and preservation space prevented the facility from offering the freshest food possible. "It was really impossible to serve high quality food there because there's no kitchen," Director of College Houses and Academic Services David Brownlee said. While regular food service will no longer be offered, Brownlee said meals may be offered there during special events held in the space. The facility will also continue to be used as programming and group-study space. But Brownlee said that while "the best place for a dining hall is in the house itself," the placement of the facility should not interfere with the quality of the food. "Clearly nothing beats a very private dining opportunity but realistically Harrison never had seating for more than 200 anyway," Moneta added. The college house now has its own dining area in the basement of 1920 Commons, Brownlee said. And the completion of the University's 10-year, $300 million dorm and dining overhaul should create better affiliations between college houses and dining facilities, Moneta said. "Our goal when we begin the expansion of dining in Hamilton Village is to end up with more viable community dining experiences for each college house," Moneta said. While officials were not satisfied last year with the food quality offered in the facility, the decision to close the cafZ was also prompted in part by the focus on food quality spurred by the outsourcing of Dining Services to the food management company Bon Appetit Management Co. last spring.