By Laura Bautista
The RCC City Grill Express has finally reopened near the Digital Library after almost a four-year closure. Since Feb., the City Grill Express has allowed students to come and grab a quick lunch without needing to go to the cafeteria.
The City Grill Express first opened in the Fall of 2018 and closed in the Spring of 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. Although students and staff returned to campus in the Fall of 2021, the City Grill remained closed until Feb. 2024.
Cheryl Ruzak is the director of food services and helped reopen the stand. Ruzak said that after students came back from Covid, the need for a food stand like the City Express grew.
Ruzak stated that they needed a classified employee to fill the position. The City Express found an employee in Jan. and was finally able to open.
According to Ruzak, the stand has been very successful.
“It’s been very positive, and especially for the students that are on that side of campus that may not have the time to come over to the cafeteria,” Ruzak said.
Ruzak also said there are always two staff employees working the stand.
“It’s really great that the two employees work as a team and they help each other to make sure we keep it stocked,” Ruzak said.
“I like it,” Sarai Torrez, a food service worker at the kiosk, said.
She previously worked as a manager at McDonald’s. She’s a part time worker so she works 20 hours a week. Her interaction with the students has been very good and she makes sure they are happy when they leave.
“It’s a different pace compared to my last job,” Torrez said.
Caleb Pierre, another food service worker who was hired in Jan., works at the cafeteria as a cook and helps with the stand.
“It’s pretty cool. Everybody’s chill,” Pierre said.
Three nursing students, Destiny Montoya, Sehaj Singh, and Tracy Ngo, come to the City Express every day during lunch break.
“The nursing building is right here, so it’s just easy for us,” Montoya said.
Ngo said that they often get sandwiches or salads with a bag of chips. Although all three students said that they are hoping for more hot food options in the future, it is convenient on a short break.
“It’s convenient since the cafeteria is far away,” Singh said.
The City Grill express is open Monday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and they are closed Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The food comes from the cafeteria vendors which they bring over to the kiosk. Grab and go food such as sandwiches, salads, bagels, snacks like yogurt, fruits, pudding, Jello, and different beverages like milk, water, soda and coffee are available.
