Scooter’s reopened for the spring semester in Anderson Student Center with limited promotion after being closed since spring 2020.
Scooter’s, a retail dining option on campus, closed in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic began. It has stayed closed due to COVID-19 restrictions and not having enough workers. Now that the pandemic is becoming more manageable and people are looking for jobs, St. Thomas decided to open it back up.
Scooter’s was originally supposed to open in August 2022.
“Due to staffing issues … we just didn’t have enough cooks to maintain and keep it open,” Stephen Griffin, executive director of Dining Services, said. “If we’re going to open it, we want to make sure it stays open.”
Griffin said Scooter’s launched with limited promotion so workers could learn how to use the new technology, including electronic kiosks instead of cashiers, and feel comfortable at the restaurant.
Some students had a chance to visit Scooter’s before it closed.
“It was a fun environment, especially during lunch time it was always super busy, and I could tell that a lot of students enjoyed it,” junior Kate Gustafson said.
Scooter’s is now a new dining option for underclassmen, who haven’t been able to experience their food yet.
“Overall, we’ve got great comments on it, the food is really good, people have really liked (Scooter’s) being open again. Hopefully soon we’ll have some kind of opening launch in March,” Griffin said.
Currently, Scooter’s is open Wednesday through Sunday 3-10 p.m. With the help of more staff, Griffin hopes to expand Scooter’s hours, as well as T’s.
Griffin’s goal is to have enough staff to keep Scooter’s open all week from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m., which would benefit many students to have a late night option.
“Our whole goal is that Scooter’s will become more of a sports bar,” Griffin said.
He explained that there have been a few hiccups with the televisions and other technology, but they are working on getting it resolved.
“I am excited to go back, and I hope that it can have the same or even a better environment than it had prior to the closing in 2020,” Gustafson said.
Maeve Walls can be reached at wall49822@stthomas.edu.