Occidental College’s Tiger Cooler, one of the two main dining facilities on campus, has undergone a significant overhaul this fall, introducing new food and beverage options, along with adjustments to its hours of operation.
One of the most notable changes was the removal of the Cooler’s espresso machine. Monica Jones, Food Services Manager at the Cooler, explained that the decision was made to avoid redundancy, as other campus locations already serve coffee.
“The Marketplace and The Green Bean already offer coffee and espresso drinks,” said Jones. “Having a third location offering the same thing didn’t make sense.”
The espresso machine, which Jones inherited when she joined the team last July, had been costly to maintain, with $2,000 spent on repairs without success.
Alongside the removal of the espresso machine, the Cooler also said goodbye to its ice cream novelties freezer. In its place, hand-scooped ice cream selections with a variety of toppings were reinstated. According to Jones, the freezer had not been serviced by its company since before the pandemic, and maintaining it had become burdensome.
“The company demanded we purchase novelties from them or they would take the freezer away,” Jones said, explaining the ultimate decision to remove it.
With staffing now stabilized, Jones noted that the return of hand-scooped ice cream was made possible. “When I first started, we didn’t have enough staff. Now we have 12 full-time employees, so we can offer more services.”
Another exciting addition to the Cooler is a new boba machine, which serves boba drinks, iced teas, lemonades, and iced coffees. Erik Russell, Assistant Vice President of Hospitality and Auxiliary Services, said the introduction of boba helps fill a gap in the Cooler’s beverage lineup.
“Before, we didn’t offer boba,” Russell said. “We always look at what we can add to improve the student experience.”
Changes to the Cooler’s hours of operation were also implemented this fall. Previously open until midnight, the Cooler now closes at 10 p.m. daily. Russell explained that staffing the late-night hours proved difficult and unsustainable, prompting the adjustment.
“There was a lot of turnover, and late-night shifts were the hardest to fill,” Russell said. “We had to find a more sustainable way to keep the Cooler open for students.”
To accommodate students during late hours, last year’s introduction of smart fridges has proven beneficial. These fridges offer pre-cooked meals and desserts, allowing students to use their meal plan to purchase items and reheat them at their convenience. Although the Cooler kitchen now closes at 10 p.m., the dining area remains open until 2 a.m., giving students access to the smart fridges and vending machines.
Some students, like sophomore Clark Canning, miss the old late-night hours but understand the rationale behind the changes.
“I liked it being open later, but I get why they made the change,” Canning said. “I felt bad for the staff working until midnight. I’m okay with sacrificing that convenience.”
Despite some nostalgia for the late-night experience, Canning said he’s adaptable to the new dining structure.
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