Pimentos Closes Down as 1826 Returns to Campus

Campus dining options shift as an old campus favorite returns to fill the restaurant space.

(Photo: Chloe Newton) A select menu of 1826 will be served at the old Pimentos location, which is next to the bookstore. 

1826 is returning to Mississippi College’s campus, but not in the way students thought it would. Instead of being located in the building east of the piazza, the concept of 1826 is moving to Pimentos. A select 1826 menu will be served from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Mon. through Thurs. These hours will begin on Mon., Aug. 29.

Freshmen, sophomores, and maybe even a few juniors might question what 1826 was and why students are thrilled for its return.

“[In the past], 1826 was a late-night grill with a fun, happy vibe. It had rocking chairs and swivel chairs. It was a fun place to go and socialize,” said Mike Prince, director of food services.

Not only have students questioned the return of 1826, but they have also wondered about the instability of campus dining option, Pimentos. 

Ten years ago, MC signed a 15-year contract with a franchise out of Memphis, Tenn. to bring Pimentos to campus. This contract has been terminated, and the space will no longer be called Pimentos. Food services has not delegated a name to the space, but has thoughts of doing a naming contest in the future. Students need to keep their ears open to hear more information.

Prince expects to keep this new space fully staffed despite the complicated staffing history Pimentos had. Chick-Fil-A and Einstein’s workers have been recruited to staff the space. Equipment from the original 1826 building has also been moved over to Pimentos in order to prepare the food of the 1826 menu.

Since Covid, campus dining has been battling the “three-headed monster,” as Prince puts it. The supply chain, inflation, and the labor crisis have caused obstacles for restaurants everywhere.

Rachel Smith, the Student Government Association president, and the rest of the Auxiliary Services committee can be accredited to pushing the idea of bringing back 1826 in some form.

“I met with Mike Prince and requested one day a week where the cafeteria would serve the 1826 menu; Prince was then open to the idea of bringing the 1826 menu back in some form,” said Smith.

The voices of MC students are being heard, and the staff at MC do their best to make sure students feel at home during their time on campus. This includes creating an environment of student voices. However, this change does limit other on-campus dining.

During the spring 2022 semester, Chick-Fil-A closed at 9 p.m. Mon. through Thurs. Now, Chick-Fil-A will close at 6 p.m., and Einstein’s will close at 1 p.m.

“It’s all a variety of hours. Einsteins does 90% of the business before 1 o’clock. Chick-Fil-A does the most business from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Obviously, the new location will be open from 5 to 9. I just think it adds on,” said Prince.

This dining schedule is a semester commitment, a trial run, and a compromise to student wishes. However, student response is still important. 

Smith said, “It warms my heart to think of all the classes of students who never experienced the classic diner finally getting a taste of what my freshman year was like… I hope that the rest of the student body will enjoy experiencing those sweet moments made over an 1826 plate.”