NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 9, 2017) – An average of 68 students supported Grill 155’s Saturday opening trial period, which is not enough to make opening on weekends feasible, according Yolanda Holland, general manager of Dillard Dining Services.

The Kearny Dining Hall staff began the trial run on Sept. 16, opening Grill 155 from 7-10 p.m. on Saturdays through Oct. 28. Holland said they tried having the grill open on Saturdays in the past, but it did not work, so she started to trial opening to see if interest had grown enough to make weekend opening sustainable.   

The results showed a consistent decrease and then a slight increase in Sodexo’s number of customers. Lashondra Pierre, Sodexo staff member, said their “rush hour” on Saturday nights was from 8:30-9:30 p.m.

According to Holland, the Grill 155 had 144 customers on Sept. 16; 104 on Sept. 23; and 62 on Sept. 30. The grill was closed Oct. 7 for inclement weather from Hurricane Nate. Customers totaled 35 on Oct. 14; 29 on Oct. 21; and 38 on Oct. 28.

The menu was the same as any other night at first; then Sodexo added buffalo chicken tenders and Philly cheesesteak fries on Oct. 21 and Oct. 28.

One of Sodexo’s customers on a Saturday night was Leah Erby, a sophomore English major from Chicago. Erby called the grill “a good option when you do not want to go off-campus on the weekends.”