{"id":149588,"date":"2026-02-03T21:21:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/149588\/"},"modified":"2026-02-03T21:21:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-03T21:21:07","slug":"student-dining-relocates-to-king-family-commons-after-market-square-closure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/149588\/","title":{"rendered":"Student dining relocates to King Family Commons after Market Square closure"},"content":{"rendered":"

With Market Square<\/a> closed until the fall to undergo renovations, King Family Commons (KFC) has seen an increase in student attendance after opening as a new temporary dining hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had significant data which stated students\u2019 dislike of Market Square, and after we opened East End Dining at Gutierrez Hall, it became very evident that we needed to have equal quality dining centers as soon as possible,\u201d Jude Kiah, the associate vice chancellor of student affairs, said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Students begin to line up for lunch inside KFC on Jan. 23, 2026. (TCU 360\/Hailey Bentley)<\/p>\n

KFC<\/a>\u00a0is located on the western side of campus, providing students who live in Worth Hills with a nearby dining option.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s convenient to come here compared to other spots around campus,\u201d Alexis Lofton, a sophomore nursing major, said. \u201cAll I have to do is walk down the stairs and come across. I don\u2019t go anywhere else on campus anymore because it\u2019s so close.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the changes to KFC, many students have reported longer lines than in previous years during peak dining hours.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen lines mainly at Caliente when it gets busier around 5 p.m. or 7 p.m., usually, but it goes pretty fast,\u201d Lofton said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the wait times depend on what you\u2019re getting,\u201d Audrey Hackett, a sophomore political science and economics double major, said. \u201cLast semester, less people came, so the lines were shorter.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the transition to a temporary dining hall, KFC has also seen modifications to its menu.<\/p>\n

The Press offers a salad and sandwich bar, O\u2019Brien\u2019s has grill items and Caliente features Mazi dining, a Mediterranean-style option. Magnolias Zero7 remains an allergy-free dining option<\/a> for students on campus.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy favorite thing so far was the birria grilled cheese,\u201d Sydney Peters, a sophomore nursing major, said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Caliente offers a variety of dining options to students on Jan. 23, 2026. (TCU 360\/Hailey Bentley)<\/p>\n

Kiah said the changes were planned months in advance, using data to evaluate the projected cost and demand prior to choosing KFC as the best temporary option.<\/p>\n

\u201cGiven that we are using a smaller facility, there are indeed lines, but they are very manageable,\u201d Kiah said. \u201cThe new demand has been welcome and good to see. The building is alive, and students are enjoying the space in a way they have not previously.\u201d<\/p>\n