Farmer Food Hall Coming to University of Montevallo in January 2026

November 3, 2025

In partnership with Falcon Foods, the University of Montevallo is pleased to announce an expansion to on-campus dining for students, faculty and staff with new retail concepts opening in the newly named Farmer Food Hall in January 2026.

The new dining experience will feature five distinct options, with three opening in the new Freddie’s Kitchen named by UM students, at Farmer Hall, including:

• City Mac, featuring customizable macaroni and cheese bowls
• BONMi, featuring Vietnamese sandwiches, salads and bowls
• Veg 23, a vegan and vegetarian destination
• Bojangles Express, a well-known brand featuring seasoned chicken and made-from-scratch biscuits
• Einstein Bros. Bagels, a campus mainstay with fresh bagels and coffee

The new food hall will significantly increase the number of dining options available to the campus community, with Tu Taco moving into Anna Irvin Dining Hall. Additional information about the dining experience will be announced closer to opening.

“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,” said Jason Quarles, director of dining services for Falcon Foods/Chartwells. “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. Stay tuned for updates as we transform Tu Taco and an old unused convenience store space into the Farmer Food Hall.”

This project will modernize key dining and common areas, enhance the student experience and improve the functionality of the building.

The opening of Farmer Food Hall is the result of important feedback the University has received as part of the Student Satisfaction Survey completed annually. A higher number of responses means a better understanding of what’s important to students.

Project Overview
The Farmer Hall refresh includes equipment procurement and interior renovations, along with enhancements to the game room.

Key Project Milestones

• Construction phase: Nov. 3, 2025-Jan. 23, 2026
  • Equipment disconnection and demolition (early November)
  • Rough-ins, framing, drywall and finish work (November-December)
  • Painting, flooring, lighting and final installations (December-January)
• Game room construction: Dec. 12, 2025-Jan. 23, 2026
  • New wall coverings
  • Lighting
  • Furniture installation
• Final cleaning and turnover to operations: Jan. 22-23, 2026

Impact on Campus
During construction, portions of Farmer Hall will be closed to ensure safety and efficient progress. Signage and updates will be posted as work zones change. Please be mindful of the construction areas and practice safety while traversing through the building. We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we complete this exciting upgrade to one of our most used student spaces.

While construction is happening in Farmer, Einstein Bros. Bagels will be open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. to give students retail dining option into the evening hours.

We look forward to unveiling a refreshed Farmer Food Hall that better serves our students and campus community. Thank you for your understanding and support.