MiddBlog

Several tipsters have written in to MiddBlog confirming that the Grille will end support for student-run delivery and cut hours on Sundays and Mondays. In the Fall, the Grille will be closed all-day Sundays and will only be open for lunch on Mondays, ending 7-days-a-week support for the retail operation. The changes come as the Juice Bar officially closes permanently following language school, a term later than originally announced in a school-wide email last Spring.

The decision to cut hours, yet to be announced or confirmed by Director of Dining Matt Biette, reportedly stem from staffing and budget issues. In short, the staffing for the Grille has been cut to the point where the number of staff hours available does not correspond to the needed number of staff/hours to keep the Grille open at the current schedule.

[Note: Matt Biette's comment below contradicts the reports here of the Grille ending student-run delivery. He says, "we have not determined whether we will be able to support the Grille student-delivery program this fall." Stay tuned for more information. Contact Biette via email or comment below if you would like to voice your opinion about delivery and its effect on student organizations.]

The delivery decision cuts a program that raised somewhere near $20,000 last year in funds for student organizations (outside the Student Activities Fee) ranging from Middlebury Alternative Breaks (funding service trips over school holidays) to sports teams (particularly on the club level as they look to fund training trips). An email to student organization leaders announcing the changes will be released this week. There is no word on whether the Grille might offer replacement fundraising opportunities for student organizations. While the larger student population can probably live without delivery service, it will be most felt by student organizations looking to raise money. Operating as an add-on fee to food prices, The Grille currently does not lose any money from student-run delivery program, but it does require staffing resources to train student organizations to accept orders.

Diners will have few alternative dining options both on and off campus because of the hours cuts at the Grille. Two Brothers serves hot food until midnight on Mondays and Sundays. In addition, the Grille serves as central support (supply, managerial, emergency, etc.) for the Wilson Cafe and Midd Xpress. While no changes to hours at those establishments have been announced, cutting central support at the Grille on Sundays and Mondays might affect the ability to provide those other retail services. Both Wilson Cafe and Midd Xpress rely more heavily on student employment than the Grille, perhaps giving them more of a staffing buffer to maintain their hours.

EDIT: Notes above added and corrections made. Matt Biette himself writes in with confirmation and clarification in our comments section:

This fall, while the Juice Bar will be closed, we expect to have the following hours of operation at the Grille: lunch-style service Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and dinner service Tuesday and Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m., and Saturday from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

At this point, we have not determined whether we will be able to support the Grille student-delivery program this fall.