Community invited to taste the latest in dining at WMU

It’s almost time for the public to get a look at Western Michigan University’s new Valley Dining Center where there will be nine restaurant-style venues open to students and the entire community.

The new Valley Dining Center was designed to serve as the anchor for the Goldsworth Valley campus neighborhood. The area is home to the majority of WMU’s first-year students. 

It is across the street from and has a view overlooking Goldsworth Valley Pond, was built to surpass LEED silver specifications.

Although all WMU dining centers are open to all campus and community guests, WMU officials say the Valley Dining Center is expected to be a particularly popular destination because of its variety of daily dining choices, attractive surroundings, and ample seating options.

Food is prepared in front of the guests in a series of micro-restaurants on the second floor of the facility. Each micro-restaurant has its own menu, associated seating area, decor, and theme. 

Each micro-restaurant has a unique name associated with the cuisine offered: Traditions, Cilantro’s, Pastaria, Pacific Plate, Blazin’ Bronco, Fresh Creations, My Pantry and Sweet Sensations. 

My Pantry will serve the growing number of students with food allergies and special nutritional needs. The controlled, allergen-free zone will serve individually prepared selections that are gluten-free, and nut- and peanut-free.

Other fare includes Asian cuisine, home-style classics, pizza or pasta choices, Latin dishes, deli sandwiches and wraps, breakfast fare, a classic grill menu, a salad bar that includes cut fresh fruit selections, and a full dessert station that will specialize in crepes and s’mores. 

“We’ve paid close attention to student needs and the qualities they’ve told us they want to see where they live and dine,” says Dr. Diane Anderson, vice president for student affairs. “And then we went even further and tried to anticipate their future wishes, meet campus dining trends and provide the kind of gathering space that makes students proud to be a Bronco and a WMU campus resident.”

She says, “That ‘wow’ factor we’ve built into the Valley Dining Center is an important part of attracting and retaining students and helping them build memories that will stay with them for years to come.”

The Valley Dining Center ribbon cutting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sept. 1. The ceremony to include university officials, architects and builders, students and the broader community will be followed by self-guided tours until 6 p.m.

Source: Cheryl Roland, Western Michigan University