It’s official. We think. Finally. After a few last minute changes due to new guidance from the state of CT and the university, we are planning to re-open both WesWings and The Red & Black Cafe on Monday September 7th.
Monday September 7th is the first day most students will be out of quarantine and we’ll be ready to welcome everyone back. Like everything else, things will be a little different. As our earlier updates have mentioned, we will not have any indoor dining. Everything will be packaged to-go. Red & Black Cafe will have Zingle text ordering available and limited outdoor seating. At WesWings we’re adding more picnic tables outside and a new Patio Grill that will serve daily specials including burgers, vegan Beyond burgers and much more.
We are putting in place safety features including Plexiglas, contactless payments for meal plan IDs, separate entry and exits and more signage then we ever thought possible.
Both locations will accept meal plan points, Middletown cash and credit cards. There will be no cash accepted this year. In addition, we have made the decision to restrict our customers to the Wesleyan community ONLY. Specifically students, faculty and staff who are a part of the university’s Covid testing program. Eventually we may develop a curbside pickup plan for non university customers, but for now we’re trying to limit the number of outside visitors and customers.
In the coming weeks we’ll provide more updates to help you better understand our new systems. Where the lines are and the easiest ways to order.
Last spring we told you we were not going anywhere and we meant it. The past five months have been hard on our staff but everyone is eager to get back work. We still have a long way to go but we are determined to make this, our 30th year in business, a memorable year.
To all our customers, employees and the Wesleyan community, we want to let everyone know the latest on our restaurants, employees and plans for the next several months.
We have been closed since the beginning of spring break opening for only one day which we described in a previous post. We have decided, baring an emergency situation that would require our services, to remain closed for the rest of the spring semester. Under current conditions it does not make sense to reopen. Our staff will finish the shutdown process in our kitchens over the next few weeks.
We have been paying our non student full and part-time staff while we have been shutdown. However with the recent passage of the stimulus package, we will be making changes. The new law provides an additional $600/week of unemployment benefits on top of regular state benefits. After consulting with our staff, we believe that it will be more beneficial for them to receive these benefits than remaining on active payroll. While the new law goes into effect immediately, we will continue to pay our staff until April 4th to make sure they are financially secure until the new plan is implemented. We will continue to provide all employee benefit programs including medical, dental and retirement. This is a temporary shutdown and ALL employees are expected to return when we reopen in September. Our primary concern has and will remain the well being of our staff.
While the recent stimulus bill will help our staff and relieve us of some payroll expenses, our restaurants will still be under considerable financial stress. We have made several moves to insure that our employees are provided for and all our vendors are paid. We are counting on our customers to support us in the fall. We’ll need everyone of you buying wings, mozz sticks, penne vodka and pails.
We are incredibly sad that we will not have the many spring events that we all enjoy. Pail-a-Palooza, Lobsterfest and senior night dinner to name a few. We will do everything we can to make it up especially for the class of 2020.
One way you can support our efforts is to purchase a gift card. This will help us with our immediate financial needs to pay our staff and other expenses. It gives you the opportunity to get some great food when our restaurants reopen. We are thankful for everyone’s support during this difficult time. #GoWes
Today we opened the Red & Black Cafe to do our part helping feed students as they were leaving campus. While we are not the primary campus dining service provider, we have always felt committed to serving the Wesleyan community no matter the circumstances. Snow storms, power outages etc. We have always been there as long as we believed we could do so without endangering our staff or customers.
Today was a challenge. We began the day short staffed trying to prep both the dining area to accommodate a takeout only setup as well as our menu. When we opened our registers, we found the Blackboard system down making it difficult to ascertain if students still had funds or not. We assured our customers that everyone would be fed regardless of ability to pay. Later as more people came in, we quickly moved to a text order only system to create more social distancing as the increased number of waiting customers began to create anxiety amongst both staff and customers.
By mid afternoon we learned of the all campus email encouraging students to leave ASAP and/or not attempt returning to campus at this time. In addition several of our suppliers informed us of problems they were facing.
As we have said, staying open to feed our student customers has always been a priority. Unfortunately the conditions, the safety of our staff and the reality of what we are capable of, have made us come to the conclusion that we must for the time being close both locations.
As we have previously announced, all of our non student full and part time employees will continue to be paid their regular wages up to 40 hours/week until our regularly scheduled summer break.
We have not made the decision to permanently close for the semester. We will continue to maintain both locations. This will allow us to quickly reopen and provide service if needed. We are waiting to see how many students will remain on campus and what the guidance from government officials will be in the coming weeks.
Please follow us on our various social media platforms as well as our website for updates.
We appreciate everything this community has done for us. We are so lucky to be part of the Wesleyan family. We are heartbroken to make this decision but know it is the right thing to do.
The Red & Black Cafe is open with several changes.
Hours of operation Everyday 9am-5pm
There is no dining inside. We have sectioned off tables and chairs and ask that all orders be taken to go
We encourage everyone to take advantage of our text ordering 860-650-1214
Our self serve coffee has been removed and we will make all coffee orders including adding milk, cream etc
No refills in your own mug. All mug club refills will be in single use paper cups
If you are sick or feeling any symptoms we ask that you not come inside. We will provide alternative means to get you food. Text us your order and we’ll arrange for you to pick up in a more secure area.
We will not be able to accommodate stocking up on large quantities. While we have a decent supply of drinks, we will limit people buying more than 6 bottled drinks.
There will be no “burning your points” Typically at the end of the semester, we encourage people to use or lose their points, but not this week. We are focused on providing everyone their immediate dining needs and will not be selling extra items.
We will also not be accepting any points donations. We know many of you want to do what you can to help us and our staff during the next few months. As we have stated, we will be paying our non student staff at both Weswings and Red & Black regardless of whether we are open or not. We want to assure all of our customers and staff we are prepared to handle the next few months. We are making necessary moves to meet our immediate financial needs. Wesleyan is working to responsibly process refunds for room and board. While there have been occasions in the past for charitable points donations, what is needed now is a calm process. After the semester is over, we will be working with the administration to assess our needs. We will definitely be counting on our customers to help us when they return by dining with us as much as possible.
Please be patient with us, as this is a rapidly evolving situation. We will continue to keep everyone updated. We are committed to doing what we can to help the Wesleyan community (students faculty and staff) in a safe and responsible way.
To all of our customers, staff and the entire Wesleyan family. We want to let you know what services Weswings and the Red & Black Cafe will be offering during the next few weeks and remainder of the semester.
Our upcoming schedule remains unchanged. The Red & Black Cafe will be reopening on Monday March 16th. It will be open 9am-5pm March 16-22. On Monday March 23rd it will return to regular hours 9am-8pm M-F and 9-5 Sat & Sun until March 30th.
WesWings will reopen Friday March 20th and will be open 11am-8pm until March 30th. Weswings has extended its afternoon hours to reduce congestion at mealtimes and to be able to serve students at off hours during their move.
After March 30, both locations plan to remain open to service any students, faculty and staff who are remaining on campus. We will reevaluate our hours of operation and may reduce them depending on customer needs.
To our student staff: If there are any student workers who receive permission to remain on campus, we will make every effort to schedule hours for you.
To our non student full and part time staff: We are making every effort to maintain our work schedules. During the end of March as students are moving off campus, there may be increases or decreases in schedules depending on needs. After March 30th, we will reevaluate our needs and adjust schedules accordingly. If at anytime during the next two months it becomes necessary to close either location, everyone will continue to be paid their regular hours up to 40 hrs per week until our regularly scheduled summer break May 16th. This pandemic is causing so many disruptions and hardships for so many people. We want to do as much as we can to support our staff. You are what make our restaurants run so smoothly and allow us to be successful. You have been there for us, we want to do what we can to help you too. While this entire experience will be a huge financial loss for us, our staff is the backbone of our restaurants and we know this is the right thing to do.
We have been here for almost 30 years and have served the Wesleyan community through blizzards, ice storms and lockdowns. We’ve been through the best and worst of times and always come through. This time will be no different.
Eggs Benedict with fresh Asparagus one of many Weekend Brunch specials
You’ve heard about it. Â They have cookie dough. Â Maybe you even ate here during WesFest. Â But now you’re here, standing in line, with a crowd around you, and you hear one of the cashiers yell, “Can I help who’s next?” Â
WesWings can be a little daunting the first few times.  Some will panic and just order a burger and fries or a chicken sandwich.  Our menu is pretty extensive and the choices are vast.
What kind of bread?
Regular or spicy fries?
What kind of sauce?
Here or to go?
To list just a few of the questions you’ll be asked.
So here are a few ideas to help you get the most out of our little establishment Remember, yes we take points and like the Red & Black Cafe, we are a small independent business owned by Karen & Ed ’89
Water is free, cups are not. Â We charge 25 cents for a water cup so if you don’t want to buy a drink, bring your own mug. Â We do this to reduce waste, not make money.
To Go containers are free. Â Our portions are big and delicious so why not bring it home.
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