If there is one thing we can all agree on, it’s that Mercyhurst students love to eat.

Fortunately for students, Café Diem has reopened on the first level of the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE) courtesy of the Hospitality Management program.

Café Diem was originally situated in Hammermill Library, in a less than convenient space and offered a limited menu mainly consisting of coffee and snacks.

The new café is in a better location and is more focused on healthy food options ranging from coffee to soup, pizza, wraps and sandwiches.

Salina Bowe photo: Hospitality Management majors work together to supply food for students at the new location for Cafe Diem.

The team that worked on reopening the café saw the demand on campus and used the old Café Diem’s shortcoming to improve upon.

Assistant Professor of HRM Daryl Georger, Assistant Professor of Hospitality Management Beth Anne Sheldon, the Chair of HRM, Chef Charles Magalhaes and Allison Shrimper have been a tremendous help in getting everything organized for the café, as well as the student managers.

The café is open Monday through Thursday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; however, expansion of hours is a possibility.

With its location in the CAE, many of the intelligence students are asking for a late night food option. The café is only taking cash transactions for now, but will offer debit and credit transaction along with Laker Loot capabilities in the near future.

General Manager Jessica Christofferson says that in the few days the café has been open she is happy with the turnout.

“As we continue to grow and learn what the students want we will be able to develop a routine and have more success. I think that once students spread the word and come try the café, business will pick up,” Christofferson said.

The café is part of the Hospitality Management program and is completely student run. Student managers include seniors Jessica Fellows, Amy Edwards and Nate Anderson and juniors Chelsea Shilala and Amanda Lippiello. Other students involved are juniors Zach Moss and Emily Kainer, sophomore Lauren Furda and senior Leon Gallop.

Any students looking for service hours or would like to learn about the hospitality industry are more than welcome to stop in.