Due to slight overcrowding, chances are it will take a little longer for a Biolan to grab a meal unless entering the cafeteria extraordinarily early or late.

Cafe Manager Ana Ramos said if students can’t find a seat inside, they will generally sit on the patio, or partake of their meal in the ski lodge, which is a separate room at the back of the cafeteria. However, sophomore Tatiana Omran finds other options more appealing.

“I don’t really like [the cafe] when it’s super crowded because the lines are super long or there are no tables,” Omran said. “So, I either have to opt for going to Eagle’s Nest or off campus, especially if I have a class.”

However, according to Ramos, there have yet to be any complaints made about overcrowding on the comments board. Some students said it doesn’t bother them.

“It’s really not that crowded. People probably feel like it is because they don’t want to wait in line. They see all the people and get discouraged,” freshman Leah Lee said.

There is a maximum of 800 people allowed in the cafe at one time, and there are approximately 1,600 people who come and go from the time the cafe opens to when it closes at each meal.

“We are a dining facility built for a university setting,” said General Manager Steve Rall. “Chair turnover time is rather high. When there are classes scheduled, that’s when there’s overcrowding. The biggest crowding issue we have is that people tend to arrive at different times, so when a class starts there’s a huge rush to get out of the cafe. The dish rush is not designed for mass exiting.”

“It depends on the times when you go,” Omran said, “and you get used to when it’s supposed to be most busy.” Both Ramos and Rall agree there were fewer tables and less space last year, so there was an undeniable problem with overcrowding. The cafe was remodeled almost three years ago, and when compared to the cafe prior to it, this one has more seats, more floor space and is more open.

“The whole kitchen used to be 50 feet by 70 feet. All the food stations, such as the salad bar and grill, were in that big of an area. Now, there are always food choices available when you want to wait,” Rall said.

In a study for what size space was needed in the new facility, it was discovered that there was an average of 650 people at one time in the old cafe. Now, there are closer to 800 people. The numbers are not that far apart, and Rall affirms if diners didn’t get up and leave, people would have to look for seats. However, the estimated amount of time an average student spends in the cafe is 30 minutes.

Even though the cafe was remodeled only a few years ago, it is still slightly crowded. There are 1,600 more people in the cafe per week than there was last year, according to Ramos. Fortunately, this doesn’t put too much stress on the chefs, because by looking at the number of people, they are able to prepare for cooking according to the number of increase.

Also, to ease the strain on space, more tables were added at the beginning of this semester. Round tables, capable of seating eight people, were added to the side, several more were placed in the ski lodge, and there are now four-person tables at the back behind 6th Street Grill. There may not be a place for a large group to sit, but this cafe is undoubtedly designed for more intimate seating.

Although the cafe gets congested at rush hour, Rall feels there is no need to make more space.

“My understanding is that the demographics, or the amount of people going to school, were decreasing,” Rall said. “I’ve been told many ‘this is it’ types of things. Also, we’re not building any more dorm space, so logically there shouldn’t be any need for more cafeteria space.”

The cafe hasn’t taken sales away from the Talon, Common Grounds or Eagle’s Nest, said Rall, so more space would generate an opportunity for excess. Management has also been looking to the new Talbot building, which will cater to the needs of commuters. There, space will be provided for a larger Eagle’s Nest and a new Talon, as well as a convenience store.

“They’ve maxed out on who’s living on campus,” Rall said. “I think we’re fine.”