A new eatery called “The Garden” opened on March 29 in the location where KR’s Place used to be. The Garden is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Garden’s manager, Maggie Pickens, described the new eatery as “plant-centered” but not “plant-based.”
“We don’t necessarily want to categorize it as plant-based because [there are] so many different views and branches that come from plant-based,” Pickens said. “So, we like to categorize ourselves as plant-centered — like freshness, vibrancy, all the colors, basically food as God designed it to be.”
Pickens said everything is 100% vegan.
She also said many people were involved in creating and launching The Garden.
“It started long before I came into the picture,” Pickens said in an interview with the Accent. “This is a collaboration between a lot of departments, mainly between culinary arts and the nursing department. [They are] people [who] have vision and dreams and a passion for quality food at a good price and people [who] care about our students.”
Those who helped form The Garden are Cindi Young, administrative assistant for Financial Administration; Tom Verrill, senior vice president for Financial Administration; Beth Snyder, associate professor in the School of Nursing; Bonnie Musgrave, assistant professor in the School of Health and Kinesiology; and Teddy Kyriakidis, Food Services director.
Pickens was hired at the beginning of March. She graduated from Southern in 2015 with a degree in vegetarian culinary arts. She also obtained a bachelor’s in physical education, health and wellness. After graduating, she became an assistant food service director at Shenandoah Valley Academy in Virginia.
Before The Garden opened, students were invited to numerous taste tests, according to Pickens. She said the menu is constantly changing.
“Currently [the menu is] changing weekly. It’s happened so fast that I haven’t really had the time to sit down and create a solid rotating menu,” Pickens said. “So right now, it’s all about creativity—trying to offer new things to students and also getting their feedback on the pitch as well.”
Pickens said feedback has been positive so far.
Sophomore nursing major Kristen Page shared her reaction to The Garden in an email interview with the Accent.
“I am so glad there is finally a whole foods eatery on campus,” Page said. “Their [The Garden] staff are so friendly and helpful. When I was coming back from clinicals on Thursday, I got there just a few minutes after they closed. But they still took my order!”
Freshman mass communication major Micah Norwood also shared her experience with The Garden in an email interview with the Accent.
“I really appreciate what The Garden is doing,” Norwood said. “They make simple meals, which is more like the home cooked meals I’m used to. I feel like they also give a nice option for less processed [and] more healthy food with a good mixture between cooked and fresh. I also appreciate that they give a large amount of food for what I feel like is a good price. I’ve eaten at The Garden three times now, and every time it has been delicious. I can’t wait for more. ”
