A few things will look different when dining on Mercer University’s Macon campus this fall, but students will have just as many options.
In the center of campus, Penfield Hall has been transformed into Fresh Food Company, which was located in the Connell Student Center before its demolition in June as part of the Building for BEARS project. Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2027 on a new student center, which is expected to open in August 2028.
“With the new Penfield setup, our focus was always to make sure that the students had the same experience as in the Connell Student Center as much as possible,” said Jarvis Napier, general manager for Mercer Culinary Group. “We wanted to preserve as many dining stations as possible while designing a layout that would feel like a true dining hall. Our goal was to maintain the same welcoming dining experience our guests expect, ensuring they would continue to enjoy the same variety and quality without sacrificing the features they value most.”
Fresh Food Company will offer all the same buffet-style food stations — grill, salad bar, deli, pizza, Mongolian stir-fry grill, breakfast bar and dessert bar — with the exception of the True Balance allergen-friendly station, which has moved to Farmers Market in the University Center.
The Penfield space accommodates 250 diners, and 130 seats have been added to the Farmers Market patio, in addition to its existing indoor seating. The patio has been outfitted with awnings, fans and heaters to keep the space comfortable year-round, said Ken Boyer, associate vice president for Auxiliary Services.
“With the Building for BEARS project, it was essential that we keep the same level of service or even expand our services,” Boyer said. “Mealtime is such a community event on Mercer’s campus. It gives our students a chance to come together, to meet, to converse. We want to have those opportunities available for them to continue to do that. Studies have shown that students who dine together are more likely to be successful in their college experience.”
In addition to True Balance, a pizza station has been added to the Farmers Market offerings. Returning food stations include the salad bar, deli, entree, dessert and continental breakfast, Napier said.
Farmers Market offers continuous dining service Monday through Friday between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Lunch is served from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; the salad bar, deli and pizza stations are open from 2-4 p.m.; and dinner is available from 4-8 p.m. Weekend hours are 9 a.m.-8 p.m., with breakfast from 9-11 a.m.
Fresh Food Company at Penfield is open from 7-10 a.m. for breakfast, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch, and 4-8 p.m. for dinner Monday through Thursday. On Friday, it’s open 7-10 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for lunch. It is closed on Saturday and Sunday.
The Drop, which offers contactless food pickup, has relocated to the lower level of Tarver Library, adjacent to Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Tot’s Corner has moved to the first floor of Legacy Hall. A new dining option is Toby’s To-Go Food Truck, which will be parked between Tarver Library and Stetson Hall on weekdays and feature a rotating menu. Patio space seating in this area is being expanded, Boyer said.
In addition to Farmers Market, weekend dining options are The Drop and Chick-fil-A on Saturday and Einstein Bros. and Panda Express on Sunday, Napier said. Hours are being finalized for these dining locations and will be updated here.
On Aug. 20, Mercer Culinary Group will host a “Welcome Bears” dining event for students on Cruz Plaza and in Penfield Hall. The “Building for Bears. Fueling the Future” celebration will include music from a DJ, a special treat from a partnership with Coca-Cola and Blue Bunny, and an interactive “Build the Bear Community” Lego station where every attendee adds LEGO bricks to create the MU logo.
“We’re excited to get the Mercer community back in and dining with us. We’ve missed them,” Boyer said.
