Over the summer, Hokie Grill and Co. inside Virginia Tech's Owens Hall went through a bright transformation, not only with a new color scheme, but also with other major repairs and renovations.

To match its award-winning food, Virginia Tech Dining Services is improving the look and feel of each of the dining centers across campus. Owens Food Court, Squires Food Court, and Hokie Grill were updated in phase one of the planned upgrades.

“Hokie Grill is just one small piece of the overall puzzle for creating a successful dining program,” said Brian Grove, associate director of dining services. “Dining spends most of the summer looking at improving our services and products for the students. If the students are happy, then Dining Services has been successful with the project at the end of the day.”

Grove said Hokie Grill had not experienced a refresh in more than 15 years. The project began with replacing the coil in the air handler, replacing the ceiling tiles, painting the dining area a series of warm pastel colors, replacing the carpet, swapping in new tables and chairs, and reupholstering the bench seating. But the renovations will not end there. Over the upcoming December holiday break, faux Hokie stone will be added to the columns to cover the old tiles. 

Hokie Grill provides students with a variety of food options, including Chick-fil-A, Blue Ridge Barbecue, Pizza Hut and Dunkin’ Donuts. But students love Hokie Grill for more than chicken sandwiches or pepperoni pizzas. Due to its convenient location on campus, Hokie Grill provides a place to socialize, watch television, and do school work.

“My goal is that students will find it a light and inviting space that builds a sense of community,” said Grove. From the busy traffic in and out of Hokie Grill, it seems that Virginia Tech Dining Services has yet again impressed students.  

Total cost of the Hokie Grill and Co. renovation project was $104,535. The project began in late May and was completed in early August. Dining Services provided oversight for the various vendors involved in the upgrade. Hokie Grill and Co. is 6,773 square feet. It was renovated in 1991 and again in 1997.

Ranked #3 Best Campus Food by 2016 Princeton Review and #1 in The Best Dining Halls on College Campuses by College Magazine, Virginia Tech Dining continues to uphold its award-winning reputation and strives to enhance the services for all of the Hokie Nation.

Written by Gus Wagner of Stafford, Virginia, a senior majoring in public relations in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and Erica Palladino of Glen Head, New York, a senior majoring in professional writing with a minor in medicine and society in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.
Share this story