Spring Break
Faculty Club closes for renovations
By: Ashley Dias
Issue date: 7/13/05 Section: News
The Texas A&M Faculty Club closed its doors July 1 for renovations and won't be opening back up until the beginning of the spring semester, said Joe Powell, associate vice president for business affairs.
Powell said the Faculty Club has been in the red for the past four years, with losses ranging from $128,000 to $153,000.
Due to the temporary closing of the restaurant, six employees no longer have jobs at the Faculty Club, Powell said.
John Fackler, distinguished professor of chemistry and member of the Faculty Advisory Board for the Faculty Club, said the University is working hard to find jobs for those who have been let go, but that communication needs to be improved in the future to avoid similar circumstances.
"I believe the communication between University Fiscal and the Advisory Board has been less than outstanding," Fackler said.
Powell said the Faculty Club, located on the 11th and 12th floors of Rudder Tower, will undergo asbestos abatement and renovations, which will include the addition of an elevator and stairs, replacement of carpet and the addition of glass walls to reduce noise. Powell added that the Faculty Club is considering making the 12th floor a faculty lounge with a more lax environment and lighter meals.
Frank Stillisano, director of the Faculty Club, will be with the Faculty Club through the renovation process, Powell said.
"(Stillisano) does the catering that includes alcohol beverages," Powell said. "In the fall, there are a lot of activities on campus we need to keep him on board for."
Stillisano said he has more duties now that the restaurant is closed and that it will continue to be fairly busy throughout the closing with catering.
"I have taken on a little more responsibility," Stillisano said. "We are here to cater alcohol functions, plus we have details to work on during the closing."
The Faculty Club will implement new strategies to increase the use of the restaurant upon its reopening in the spring, Powell said.
"One of the things we are going to do is (to have) no monthly dues and no initiation fee," Powell said. "We'll have new menu items to increase the volume."
Powell said the Faculty Club has 270 members who pay the $21 monthly dues.
Stillisano said the Faculty Club should open again on January 17.
"The first day of spring semester, that's our target date," Stillisano said.
Powell said that when the restaurant reopens, the budget will not increase because they hope that the changes will show financial improvement.
"Hopefully, we can start fresh," Powell said.
Powell said the Faculty Club has been in the red for the past four years, with losses ranging from $128,000 to $153,000.
Due to the temporary closing of the restaurant, six employees no longer have jobs at the Faculty Club, Powell said.
John Fackler, distinguished professor of chemistry and member of the Faculty Advisory Board for the Faculty Club, said the University is working hard to find jobs for those who have been let go, but that communication needs to be improved in the future to avoid similar circumstances.
"I believe the communication between University Fiscal and the Advisory Board has been less than outstanding," Fackler said.
Powell said the Faculty Club, located on the 11th and 12th floors of Rudder Tower, will undergo asbestos abatement and renovations, which will include the addition of an elevator and stairs, replacement of carpet and the addition of glass walls to reduce noise. Powell added that the Faculty Club is considering making the 12th floor a faculty lounge with a more lax environment and lighter meals.
Frank Stillisano, director of the Faculty Club, will be with the Faculty Club through the renovation process, Powell said.
"(Stillisano) does the catering that includes alcohol beverages," Powell said. "In the fall, there are a lot of activities on campus we need to keep him on board for."
Stillisano said he has more duties now that the restaurant is closed and that it will continue to be fairly busy throughout the closing with catering.
"I have taken on a little more responsibility," Stillisano said. "We are here to cater alcohol functions, plus we have details to work on during the closing."
The Faculty Club will implement new strategies to increase the use of the restaurant upon its reopening in the spring, Powell said.
"One of the things we are going to do is (to have) no monthly dues and no initiation fee," Powell said. "We'll have new menu items to increase the volume."
Powell said the Faculty Club has 270 members who pay the $21 monthly dues.
Stillisano said the Faculty Club should open again on January 17.
"The first day of spring semester, that's our target date," Stillisano said.
Powell said that when the restaurant reopens, the budget will not increase because they hope that the changes will show financial improvement.
"Hopefully, we can start fresh," Powell said.
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