Dining deficit may affect other venues

Alison Sickelka

The Maintenance Shop is not the only venue that may see changes in the next few months as ISU Dining tries to eliminate its $600,000 deficit.

Jon Lewis, director of campus dining, said at an Inter-Residence Hall Association meeting Thursday that Hazel’s Kitchen at Reiman Gardens may no longer be owned by ISU Dining.

“Reiman Gardens loses money. We’re not going to be running it soon,” he said.

He also said they have eliminated four full-time positions at Hawthorn Market & Cafe, but said even with the cuts it would never make money.

He said ISU Dining would work to keep it running despite the deficit.

“It’s a community center,” he said.

Although he did not explain how, he said he expects all the cafes to be making money by next year, as well.

IRHA members expressed concern over the recommendation for the M-Shop to end its lunch services.

Lewis said after the last regents meeting, ISU Dining Service was told to cut its budget and make changes now.

He said, however, the idea to close the M-Shop had been on his table for over a year.

It was not until it received direction from the regents to cut the budget that the idea was recommended.

Jared Wilson, director of special events, said he thought part of the reason the M-Shop lost money was because of poor advertising.

Lewis said he was concerned about spending tens of thousands of dollars to advertise something that loses $16,000 a year.

“It’s a programming venue,” he said.