The New Mexico Highlands College Purple Grill will likely be reopening to the general public on March 10 at midday with a particular menu, leisure, and an opportunity to win Highlands swag by means of a raffle drawing.
The Purple Grill is a brand new identify for the Highlands College eating corridor and was chosen by Highlands scholar board of regent member, Chris Ulibarri. Along with receiving a brand new identify, the Purple Grill has been renovated in preparation for reopening to the general public following COVID-19 closures.
In accordance with Denise Montoya, the affiliate vice chairman for Finance & Administration, the Purple Grill, which contracts with Sodexo, is underneath the brand new management of operations supervisor, Janice Gallegos.
“Janice involves us with some great hospitality and customer support expertise, and she or he brings together with her contemporary concepts,” mentioned Montoya. “I need to additionally give kudos to Dennis Rivera, Freddie Martinez, Greg Martinez, and Sylvia Baca who labored exhausting through the renovation regardless of the pandemic delays. We now have probably the greatest facility groups in increased schooling.”
Dennis Rivera, common upkeep supervisor at Highlands, mentioned the renovations got here collectively resulting from many individuals working collectively.
“We renovated tilework and we did quite a lot of portray and organized new signage. We additionally bought a brand new salad bar, beverage station, and new counter tops,” mentioned Rivera. “It appears actually up to date now.”
The March 10 reopening occasion is a celebration of the efforts which have gone into the Purple Grill’s renovation as nicely to welcome again college students, employees, college, and neighborhood members. The menu for the occasion will embrace fried hen, smash burgers, pink and inexperienced enchiladas, posole, mac and cheese, and a salad bar.
“I do know the neighborhood has been very anxious to return again. In earlier years, the eating corridor was actually busy with quite a lot of enterprise of us from across the space,” mentioned Gallegos. “We need to see that once more, although COVID is right here, and we nonetheless will take precautions.”
Neighborhood members attending the occasion will mechanically be entered right into a raffle drawing with the acquisition of their meal. Highlands College president Sam Minner will converse at midday, and the Highlands Madrigal Choir will carry out, along with particular person solo artists and instrumentalists. As well as, attendees will have the ability to take part in desk recreation tournaments in Scholar Union Constructing, and new Highlands swag from the college bookstore will likely be accessible for buy.
Following the occasion on March 10, the Purple Grill will stay open to the general public. Attributable to will increase within the prices of meals and labor, meals for neighborhood members will likely be $9 per individual for the all-you-can-eat buffet. School and employees will proceed to pay $6.50 per meal till additional discover. Gallegos mentioned the menu has been up to date to offer extra selection, and there may be all the time not less than one vegetarian possibility accessible.
Gallegos mentioned there are particular nights deliberate within the coming months, with steak evening arising on March 31. The Purple Grill calendar is accessible to neighborhood members who need to see what’s on the menu.
Linda Anderle, neighborhood liaison for Highlands, mentioned she’s glad to have the ability to return to the Purple Grill for her weekly lunches, and she or he hopes to see different neighborhood regulars there as nicely.
“I used to be there each Thursday, and I all the time knew not less than half a dozen folks from the neighborhood at lunch,” mentioned Anderle.
Gallegos mentioned the Purple Grill adheres to the COVID-19 tips adopted by all eating places. Right now, these tips don’t restrict capability, however Gallegos mentioned there are disposable gloves accessible on the salad bar and all Sodexo workers put on masks always.
Montoya mentioned she encourages everybody to attend the March 10 reopening.
“Come early to get pleasure from a meal with college students, college, employees, and the neighborhood; convey your pals and colleagues,” Montoya mentioned. “Let’s have a superb time celebrating all the great work that continues to occur at Highlands regardless of COVID. ”
