Food court remodel to last all summer

Portland State students and faculty stared at the barriers of the Smith Memorial Student Union food court Monday morning, after a contract with new food service provider Aramark left the space closed for a summer remodel.

Aramark, which took over as the new PSU food provider July 1, has begun its services without a finalized contract for the food court remodel. The space will remain closed through summer term, leaving students with limited food options on campus.

Demolition work needed for the remodel of the food court won’t start until roughly mid-July, according to John Eckman, associate director of Auxiliary Services.

“I wouldn’t feel comfortable starting that work without a contract in place,” Eckman said, and estimated that the contract with Aramark should be completed by then.

“The major terms of the contract have been settled,” Eckman said. “We’re just working on the legalese stuff right now.”

For now, Aramark employees say they are just trying to make due.

“I’m just trying to go with the flow, hon’,” said Laura French, an Aramark employee who has set up a bare-bones coffee cart inside the Broadway entrance to the Smith building.

French said she had worked for Aramark previously, and she had continued employment with Sodexho when they replaced Aramark as PSU’s food service provider in 2005.

French said she came into work on Monday knowing that the transition would be rocky. She said that when she arrived early Monday morning, she did not know with whom she would be meeting, or what the plan was for the rest of the week.

“That’s why I’m not grouchy,” French said. “I knew things would be crazy today.”

French had drip coffee and a few pastries to offer customers Monday, and said that the espresso machine would be up and running on Tuesday.

“As long as I have a paycheck, and as long as they treat me fairly, I have no complaints,” French added, smiling and helping customers with visible enthusiasm.

A key exchange between Aramark and outgoing food service provider Sodexho was scheduled to occur over the past weekend, and while Sodexho managers have departed, new Aramark management and staff are trickling in slowly.

Some company representatives, such as the district and catering managers, have already arrived at PSU, according to Eckman. However, all Aramark corporate personnel are refusing to speak to the press, citing a new company policy.

Eckman said he is looking forward to the arrival of Stephen Wadsworth, the new general manager of Aramark.

Wadsworth was previously the general manager when Sodexho outbid Aramark for the PSU dining contract two years ago. Wadsworth took over as the director of dining services at the University of Alaska Anchorage after the contract was lost.

University of Alaska Anchorage recently severed its ties with Aramark and has signed a new contract with Sodexho and NANA Regional Corporation, which began July 1.

Wadsworth said that he is looking forward to returning to PSU, and that he would be arriving from Anchorage next week.

“Portland state is a dynamic, growth-oriented campus,” Wadsworth said from over the phone in Anchorage. “I’m really looking forward to being in Portland again.”