New and renovated dining options, expanded State Fountain Bakery planned
Renovations to MSU dining facilities will result in several new and expanded options for the university community to enjoy.
Mississippi State University students have new dining options coming as soon as this fall, with more additions slated to open in 2025, including restoration of a campus icon to its original location.
State Fountain Bakery will be part of the renovated lower portion of Perry Cafeteria and offer an expanded menu when it returns to its original location in 2025 following the renovation to Perry. The bakery has been an MSU tradition for decades, serving unique baked goods such as dog bone cookies to the campus community.
Adjacent to Perry, construction began in December as crews work to renovate the Student Media Center and University Florist building to create an expanded Subway and Bento Sushi, a new addition to campus that will serve sushi and a variety of Asian noodles. Also in December, a partial renovation began at Fresh Food Company to include a stand-alone True Balance venue, providing additional options for individuals with some of the most common food allergens. Fresh Food Company will remain open during the renovation. Subway, Bento Sushi and True Balance all are slated to open in time for the fall 2024 semester.
Earlier this year, the University Florist relocated to 205 Technology Boulevard, with retail items available for purchase at the MAFES Sales Store. The Henry F. Meyer Student Media Center, which houses offices for The Reflector student newspaper, will remain in the building.
The lower portion of Perry will also include an expanded and refreshed space for Moe’s Southwest Grill. Both the bakery and Moe’s will be closed during the 2024-25 academic year as renovations take place at Perry, but will re-open in August 2025.
“We are dedicated to continually enhancing the dining experience at Mississippi State University, and this expansion is just the beginning of our plans,” said James Jankowski, resident district manager for MSU Dining Services. “All of the upcoming renovations reflect our commitment to elevating that experience for our community.”
Additional upcoming enhancements to campus dining include:
-- A renovation beginning in June 2025 to relocate and expand Einstein Bros. Bagels within Mitchell Memorial Library;
-- When complete, MSU’s new residence hall, Azalea Hall, will include hand-tossed, brick oven pizza and Mediterranean-themed foods, as well as food lockers to offer a convenient pickup experience for students on the go;
-- Updates to McArthur Café and facilities in the Colvard Student Union’s Gaddis Hunt Commons food court;
-- Additional Maroon Markets, which provide expanded access for grab-and-go items by offering self-checkout;
-- Renovations to Perry Cafeteria, which will include new dining concepts and an expanded footprint for Starbucks when complete in 2025.
“We are excited to usher in a new era of dining at MSU with several exciting options opening in the next two years,” said MSU Vice President for Student Affairs Regina Hyatt. “These upgrades will help us better support our community’s dining needs as we continue our comprehensive work to provide an outstanding student experience.”
For more on MSU Dining Services, visit www.dining.msstate.edu.
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James Carskadon | Public Affairs
