Café on the Court Renovations

PHASE 2 is

Two popular new food franchises, Quiznos and Chick-Fil-A, were installed during this second part of the Café on the Court renovation. The grand opening was held on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005.

UTMB officials and OJs employees cut the ribbon
and officially open the new OJs.

The new OJ's cafe includes a Quiznos sandwich shop...

OJ's also features a Chik-Fil-A Express.

PHASE 1 is

Project at a Glance

Project Objective: To improve and enhance the safety and visual appeal of UTMB's primary campus dining area.

Start Date: Phase 1 began with the closing of Café on the Court Sunday, Dec. 5, 2004; it ended with the official grand opening of the main cafeteria on May 2. 2005. When it opened, the adjacent OJs closed for the start of Phase 2.

Anticipated Completion*: Phase 1 was be completed in April 2005; the entire project will be completed in late Summer 2005

Construction Impact: During Phase 1, the main UTMB cafeteria was closed. Diners were diverted to OJ's, which operated under extended hours and with an extended menu, to two new dining options, and to other campus food outlets. During Phase 2, the main cafeteria is open.  

Project Description: Cafeteria renovation and upgrades

See details on the new cafeteria and ribbon-cutting.

Wondering what's going on behind the construction walls? See the work under way in our project photo gallery.
Workers are making good progress in what will be a floor-to-ceiling overhaul of Cafe on the Court. The first images in the set were taken on Dec. 6, the morning after the cafeteria closed and about 10 days later. The second set of images are from Jan. 05.  We'll continue to provide updates on the work.

• December images

• January images

• February images

"Showtime Cooking"--in the hospital hallway near the Family Garden--was one of the new options available to diners during the cafeteria renovations. The station was set up each day for lunch, and removed each afternoon.

Dec. 1, 2004--The long-awaited renovations to UTMB’s main cafeterias are set to begin, with crews set to start work on Dec. 6, 2004. The $1.3 million project will take place in two phases lasting no more than a total of seven months. When the projects are complete, UTMB faculty, staff, students and visitors will see a dramatically different and improved dining facility.

The main entrance to Café on the Court from the John Sealy Annex is being moved, new food stations are being installed, and all the hardware, fixtures, flooring and walls will be upgraded or replaced. In addition, two new food franchises—Quiznos and Chick-Fil-A—are setting up shop in OJ’s. Part of the wall currently separating OJ’s and Café on the Court will be removed, further opening up the space and allowing diners to easily move between the two venues. New fire safety equipment is also being installed.

Phase 1 of the project begins Dec. 6, and brings with it a considerable amount of short-term disruption. Café on the Court will close at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 5, and remain closed for approximately four months. While Café on the Court is closed, OJ’s will be operating with extended hours. It’ll open early, at 6:30 a.m., and close late, at 1 a.m., seven days a week.

Two new food options will be available while the cafeteria is being renovated. The Outakes Café Room, in Rm. 1.111 of the John Sealy Annex (across from OJs), will offer a deli, “grab ‘n’ go” salads and pickup of online orders weekdays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. (Get info on online ordering from the Morrison web site.)

The second new option will be Showtime Cooking, offering display cooking and a burrito bar—Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.. Showtime will be on Mainstreet, the hospital main hallway near the Family Garden and white hallway.

Morrison, UTMB’s food service partner, also operates several other food outlets on campus: Joes, on the first floor of the Lee Hage Jamail student Center; a cafeteria and grill in the Rebecca Sealy Hospital, and the Green House, in the SAHS/SON building. These three facilities are open weekdays from 7:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., and are open to any member of the campus community.

In addition, Morrison also operates a coffee shop with Starbucks products and baked goods in the main hallway on the hospital, and several food carts.

Phase 2 of these renovations, which is expected to take an additional 60 to 90 days, shifts the work over to OJ's and starts once the main cafeteria re-opens. Two popular new food franchises, Quiznos and Chick-Fil-A, will be installed during this second part of the project. 

Watch for cafeteria renovation updates on this construction web page, on iUTMB and on Morrison’s web site.

During the renovation to Café on the Court, UTMB diners will have a chance to sample two new creative food options in a few new settings.

* Please remember that construction timetables are subject to variables such as weather. The university and its contractors are always motivated to complete projects quickly, safely, properly and with minimal disruption. We always appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to build a better UTMB.