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By DAVE DOMESCIK | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The University of Montevallo is teaming up with Falcon Foods to launch an exciting expansion to on-campus dining with the opening of Farmer Food Hall in January 2026.

Located inside the newly refreshed Farmer Hall, the expanded dining space will feature five distinct restaurant concepts, including three opening inside Freddie’s Kitchen—a new food court named by UM students.

Freddie’s Kitchen will include:

– City Mac, offering customizable macaroni and cheese bowls

– BONMi, featuring Vietnamese sandwiches, salads and bowls

– Veg 23, a vegan and vegetarian destination

Elsewhere in Farmer Food Hall, Bojangles Express will bring its signature seasoned chicken and made-from-scratch biscuits to campus, while Einstein Bros. Bagels, already a campus favorite, will continue serving its well-known lineup of fresh bagels and coffee.

Additionally, Tu Taco, a popular student favorite, will relocate to the Anna Irvin Dining Hall to expand the variety of dining options available across campus.

According to Jason Quarles, director of dining services for Falcon Foods/Chartwells, the new food hall is designed to evolve alongside student preferences.

“There are 15 total concepts that can be dropped in over the years without renovating the space again, and students will have a chance to vote for making changes each year,” Quarles said. “Tu Taco is a student favorite, so it will reopen in the spring inside the dining hall, offering a retail experience in a residential setting included in their meal swipe.”

The project, which will modernize Farmer Hall’s dining and common areas, is based on feedback gathered through the university’s annual Student Satisfaction Survey. In addition to dining upgrades, the renovation includes equipment updates, refreshed interiors and enhancements to the building’s game room.

Construction began on Monday, Nov. 3, with equipment disconnection and demolition taking place in early November, followed by framing, drywall and finish work through December and January. Game room construction will occur between Friday, Dec. 12 and Jan. 23, 2026, featuring new lighting, wall coverings and furniture.

Final cleaning and turnover to operations are scheduled for Jan. 22-23, 2026, just ahead of the official opening.

During construction, portions of Farmer Hall will be closed for safety. Einstein Bros. Bagels will remain open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. to provide continued retail dining options for students.

The university expects Farmer Food Hall to serve as a modern, flexible hub for dining and student life for years to come.

“We look forward to unveiling a refreshed Farmer Food Hall that better serves our students and campus community,” university officials said in a statement.