Students will have to wait at least another four weeks for dining services to return to lower campus.
Officials expect the renovation of the Outpost restaurant, which is located next to the SSPA Building, to be finished within three weeks, but there is still no set opening date.
Previously set for Jan. 19, the Outpost’s reopening has been postponed for at least another four weeks due to construction delays.
David Salazar, Associate Vice President of Physical Planning and Facility Management, said another delay in opening the restaurant during its projected time in fall 2008 was due to the mishap of its general contractors. Salazar said the contractors were “non-responsive” and did not stay on schedule.
Grand Catering and A.C. Catering Inc. are providing food services at the south end of campus until construction is finished, according to Don Penrod, general manager and CEO of Forty-Niner Shops Inc., which runs the Outpost and other on-campus dining facilities.
Many students have accepted their services in lieu of the Outpost.
“It’s fine,” said Fabian Prado, a junior kinesiology major. “I’m getting my food either way.”
However, some students are inconvenienced by the delay.
“[It is a] huge problem because [the catering truck] only takes cash, or else you have to go up campus,” said Shay Sorrells, a social work graduate student.
Other students, such as June Vu, a junior English major, prefer the indoor setting of restaurants.
“I sometimes want a place to eat and sit and take my time,” she said. “Out here, there’s always people doing stuff, and it’s not the same as sitting in a restaurant or cafeteria.”
Construction on the building was supposed to begin in June 2007 but was delayed a semester because of difficulty in finding a contractor. After collecting bids from contractors, Steton Construction Group was selected.
The renovation of the restaurant cost $5.5 million.
I am sure the CSULB Contract Administrator responsible for overseeing this construction included a specific performance clause in the contract and that the contractor will be penalized for failure to meet the contractually required completion date. If not CSULB needs a new Contracts Administrator who can ensure all contracts are completed on time and on budget.