There are no current plans or even solid ideas for the space in the Longwood University Health and Fitness Center that smoothie bar Refuel Zone occupied before closing in summer 2012.
The remains of the framework of the smoothie stop-and-shop are located in the front foyer of the Health and Fitness Center. The space is adjacent to the staircase that leads to the upper level of the building, and has been empty and out of business since the beginning of the 2012-2013 academic year.
Matthew McGregor, associate dean for Wellness and director of Campus Recreation, said food will most likely not be served at Refuel Zone’s former location. He is trying to move away from the idea having food service take up that space again. McGregor is thinking about promoting the space for the Health and Wellness Center in a way that is better directed toward their clientele.
“We spend a lot of time at the beginning of the semester reaching out to new students and so part of that is based on, you know, we have been here for five years, and so the returning students know we’re here,” said McGregor. “So a lot of our effort is being driven towards the freshmen or transfers, getting them on the schedules early on in the semester.”
When asked about his future hopes for the former Refuel Zone, junior Stephan Harris hopes to “see some kind of drink bar, a smoothie bar, something healthy ... ” Harris said he would like to see an alternative to the food offered at Dorrill Dining Hall (D-Hall) and “dorm food.”
Although a select few students attend the classes that the center has to offer or work out on their own schedules and plans, there may be enough clientele and population for the space not to be occupied with something that can be of benefit to them.
Harris went on to say, “I go to the gym six days a week, basically every other time I’d go get a smoothie ... and when you’re right there leaving the gym there was the smoothie bar where you could get protein, real fruit smoothies and stuff like that. It’s perfect.”
Another idea McGregor had for the currently unoccupied space is to “take the casework out and make it more of a lounge area. We have the ability to do something there; it’s just a matter of having a vision for that space.”
Although the area is not on top of the priority list of tasks to address within the center currently, the staff is looking toward the students and the rest of Longwood’s community to give feedback and suggestions as to what they would like to see go into that unused space in the upcoming year.
Harris’ ultimate suggestion for the space to be utilized is to sell smoothies again.
“A lot of people leaving the gym are in a rush to get places,” said Harris. “I feel like if they offer a little bit of food there, they’ll actually buy it instead of going to D-Hall or the Student Union. I feel like they would buy ... healthier food, not bags of chips.”
Senior Val Carden echoed Harris’ recommendation for the center to begin selling smoothies at the Refuel Zone again.
“I think the smoothies [are] a good idea,” Carden said. “I don’t work out much, but I even miss the smoothies in the Student Union too.”
