Despite promises that Subway will open soon in the West Union Building, students who walk past the old Breyers ice cream stand are still greeted with the dust and clutter of unfinished construction.
The delay in opening is due mostly to issues with the electrical permitting process, said David Randolph, district manager for ARAMARK Corp., which manages the new Subway and several other campus eateries. He added that everything else needed for opening the popular fast food chain has arrived.
"I would guess that it will be open within two weeks," Randolph said. "But if you had asked me that two weeks ago I would have said the same thing."
Jim Wulforst, director of dining services, said the installation will not take that long. He said the three permits--for heating ventilation and air conditioning, plumbing and from the health department--should all be cleared within the next few days, after which workers could complete the installation in another few days.
"It frustrates me that every time we launch things on campus, we have trouble," Wulforst said. "We thought this would be a simple installation, but every time we rip something apart we run into more road blocks."
The planning for the Subway began this July, and it was slated to open by Labor Day.
"They had more than ample time to get the ball rolling," said Isaac Dolgovskij, Duke University Student Dining Advisory Committee co-chair. "I don't think they did everything in their ability to see the process forwarded."
Arthur Brodie, an employee who manned the Breyers ice cream counter last year, will also be in charge of the Subway when it eventually opens its doors. He said he has heard little about the delay.
"I don't know why it hasn't opened," Brodie said. "I know it had something to do with miscommunication."
Brodie said he never received any definite time frame about the opening of Subway but believes it will certainly open in the near future. "The equipment is all here now. Presumably it will be in action in the near future," he said.
Some students said the delay has affected them little. They pointed out that the University has many other eating options to choose from.
"Once it opens, I will try it out, but it's not like Subway's the only choice around here," freshman Philipp Buff said. "I [just] want to get some sandwiches."
Vik Devisetty, a first-year medical student and president of Campus Council last year, said he is frustrated that students cannot buy Subway sandwiches yet.
"I'm not surprised [that Subway has not opened]," Devisetty said. "This is Duke. It always happens like this."
In senior Jeremy Cromer's experience, dining services has shown a lack of scheduling and preparation previously.
"I suppose it's kind of annoying. Dining services has done this in the past," Cromer said. "The Loop was supposed to open forever."
Despite his frustration, Cromer was enthusiastic about eating at Subway.
"I love Subway, and I eat there all the time," Cromer said. "I look forward to it."
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