New Dining Option Opens this Semester

With the new academic year, Marist students, faculty and staff are presented with a completely new way of meeting people and dining on campus. 

After an entire winter of construction near the Steel Plant building, Marist University is opening a new dining option for fall 2026, The Yard, set to be an outdoor dining and community space.

The new community and dining space has been advertised through Marist’s Instagram as an addition to campus where students can hang out with friends and classmates while being offered new food options through a food truck operated by Gourmet Dining.

The menu features a variety of popular fast-food options, including pizza, burgers, pork, beef and chicken fries, meat-based salads and various grilled cheeses. Gourmet Dining, the same company that operates most of the dining services on campus, has also added three new drinks to its menu for students, faculty and staff.

With limited options for plant-based meals, the menu primarily consists of meat and fried foods. There are also no advertised allergy-friendly alternatives for students, faculty and staff.

The Yard will be open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Yard will accept the same methods of payment that Marist students are already used to, including Den Points and regular credit or debit cards. Orders will be placed and prepared for pickup on Grubhub or at the location.

The Yard will not remain open throughout the entire year, closing around mid-November and reopening in March. This means the dining space will be open for approximately four to five months during the school year.

Professional renderings from David Burke Architects were published when the plans for this new dining option were announced. The renderings show an open patio with string lights, as well as several covered areas that could provide protection from rain.