The University of South Carolina officially opened Garnet Station, the newest on-campus dining hall, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday (Aug. 14) .
The new all-you-care-to-eat dining hall is located on the first floor of the Russell House University Union. It will feature over 500 new student dining seats, which includes both indoor and outdoor seating, an expanded kitchen for increased food production and new accessible restrooms.
“One of the things we heard in our conversation with students was the need for more dining and seating options at the center of campus,” says Joe Fortune, director of business affairs and contract management. “This facility not only provides both of those things but also incredible food options for students, faculty and staff. I’m grateful for the hard work of all of our partners in getting this ready for the semester, and I’m excited to see Garnet Station thrive along with USC’s other premier dining options.”
The project — a partnership among USC, Aramark, Hood Construction and the Garvin Design group — began in May and was completed on an aggressive three-month timeline to open before classes start Aug. 19.
In total, almost 21,000 square feet of space was renovated with an additional 8,450 square feet of kitchen space added to accommodate various food options: a grill, home cooking, an international and pasta station, a pizza station, a salad bar and deli, and a dessert and coffee station.
It will also include a true balance station to serve food without the top nine allergens for diners with dietary restrictions.
Also included in the renovations were the construction of a new convenience store as well as upfitting the existing Chick-Fil-A station in the Russell House to get food out more efficiently to improve wait times during the busiest portions of the day.
The addition of Garnet Station gives USC students six dining halls with unlimited dine-in access, including Fresh Greene’s in Russell House, Gibbes Court Bistro in Capstone House, Honeycomb Café in the Honors Residence Hall, The Community Table at 650 Lincoln and The Pavilion at Campus Village.
“This is a place where students will gather between classes, where faculty and staff will share ideas over lunch and where lifelong friendships will begin,” says Joe Sobieralski, senior associate vice president for administration and business affairs. “But what excites me the most is this space represents the future. It’s a glimpse into the living mission of campus life here at the University of South Carolina.”
With Garnet Station open on the first floor of Russell House, USC is set to open seven retail options on the second floor.
Cicci Di Carne is an Italian-influenced sandwich shop while El Pollo Verde will offer organic chicken and Spanish-inspired salad bowls.
The space will also offer a pizza retail space (Congaree Craft Pizza), a smoothie and acai bowl station (Blenz), a food lab with a rotating menu and Union Grill, which will offer breakfast all day and a variety of burger options.
The final retail space will be Stonie’s Bowls, a collaboration with competitive eater and influencer Matt Stonie that will offer customizable poke bowls.
“We’re thrilled to bring an incredible range of new dining experiences to the heart of campus. Garnet Station offers a fresh, welcoming space for students to enjoy an all-you-care-to-eat experience,” says Clete Myers, district manager for Carolina Food Co. “The new restaurants opening upstairs in the Russell House will add even more variety — from global flavors and student favorites to healthy, customizable options. Together, these additions reflect our commitment to creating spaces where the Carolina community can gather, connect, and enjoy food that fits every taste and lifestyle.”