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Take a behind-the-scenes tour of UMass Dining’s flashy new food hall

Worcester Commons replaces the old Worcester Dining Commons with continuous all-you-care-to-eat sushi, pho, stir-fry, pizza, pasta, salads, Halal, grab and go and more.

Tara Fitzpatrick, Senior Editor

April 16, 2021

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UMass Dining’s latest grand opening began its process in 2018, two years before the pandemic hit and changed dining forever. The UMass Dining team, led by Ken Toong, powered through the closures, social distancing and general unease of the pandemic, determined to preserve the food culture they’ve worked so hard to build.

This new facility opened last semester and is part of a major infrastructure project in the center of campus, which also includes a new student union and upgrades to landscape and sidewalks. “We are, of course, implementing COVID-related restrictions for the spring, but people will immediately benefit and in the long term these investments will have an even greater positive impact,” Shane Conklin, associate vice chancellor for facilities and campus services said in a press release.

The new Worcester Commons has quickly become one of the most popular dining spots on campus. Come, take a virtual look around.

Contact Tara at [email protected]

Follow her on Twitter @Tara_Fitzie

About the Author

Tara Fitzpatrick

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group

Tara Fitzpatrick is Food Management’s senior editor and a contributor to Restaurant Hospitality and Nation’s Restaurant News, creating editorial content for digital, print and events. Tara holds a bachelor of science degree from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kent State University. Before joining Food Management in 2008, Tara was associate editor at National Association of College Stores in Oberlin, Ohio. Prior to that, Tara worked as a newspaper reporter in her hometown of Lorain, Ohio, where she lives now. Tara is a fan of food history, legends, lore, ghost stories, urban farming and old cookbooks. 

Tara Fitzpatrick’s areas of expertise include the onsite foodservice industry (K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare and B&I), menu trends, sustainability in foodservice, senior dining, farm-to-table and innovation.

Tara Fitzpatrick is a frequent webinar and podcast host and has served on the board of directors for IFEC (International Food Editors Consortium).

Tara Fitzpatrick’s experience:

Senior Editor, Food Management (Feb 2008-present)

Associate Editor, National Association of College Stores (2005-2008)

Reporter, The Morning Journal (2002-2005)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tara-fitzpatrick-4a08451/

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