Colorado Hospital doubles size of cafeteria

FORT MORGAN, Colo. — The Colorado Plains Medical Center unveiled its new cafeteria Thursday featuring a new name.

The hospital's CEO Gene O'Hara, Kathy Kopetzky from medical records and CPMC Executive Director of Food Services Tracy Fisher unveiled the new name at the grand opening with a pull of a ribbon. The banner read "Branches" incorporated into a branch-like logo.

Kopetzky was responsible for the name after winning a hospital-wide name contest for the new cafeteria. Fisher said he incorporated the name into the logo.

But the improvements to the cafeteria weren't limited to a change in name. Renovators dramatically increased the floor space in the dining room by knocking out a wall. The entire space also saw a change in décor with a new paint job featuring earthy colors, wall decals of trees and mountains and new seats.

"We wanted to bring the outdoors in," Fisher said of the new décor.

In addition to a change in the cafeteria's feel, it also received a massive space upgrade in the dining room, Fisher said.

"We have been in the process of remodeling for the past six months," he said. "In that time we doubled our size, we have more kitchen equipment and a new décor."

The dining room can seat up to 75 people and is open for all to enjoy during the lunch hours, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The kitchen is now equipped with self-serve pizza warmers and a larger salad bar. The cafeteria is open until 4:30 p.m. serving complementary coffee and tea, Fisher said.