What Happened: Roongo’s Cafe is closing at the end of the Spring ’25 semester after being confirmed in a dining update email sent by CU Dining.
Why it Matters: Roongo’s Cafe has been a popular dining spot on campus for both students and faculty alike due to its location in Warren Student Services on the quad. The email detailed that while Roongo’s would be closing, “self-serve options will be installed in Warren Student Services.”
The Background: This all comes after initial speculation that Roongo’s was facing a potential closure in the fall semester. Dan Knorr, the executive director of economic development & external affairs, was asked in December about the future of Roongo’s. At the time there was no official statement about a closure.
According to Knorr, Roongo’s has been losing money since its reopening after the pandemic. He revealed that this semester the university was on track to lose $12,000 at Roongo’s. In Fall ’23, Roongo’s lost $30,000.
For the 2024/2025 academic year, the university had to provide a funding supplement to Aramark to maintain operations at Roongo’s.
Students and faculty have mixed feelings about the closure.
Graduate student Elizabeth Lee, while visiting Roongo’s, shared with The Voice, “I don’t really come here often, but I guess I’m sad about it.”
Bloomsburg faculty members Brock Dent, Asa Kelley and Dr. Clay Corbin come to Roongo’s several times a week for lunch. They expressed their sadness in losing their favorite lunch spot on campus and a sense of lost community.
“We will be going off campus for food options [now],” Kelley said.
Roongo’s Cafe staff members declined to comment on the closing and referred The Voice to John Scheers, Marketing Manager of Dining Services, for comment.
Scheers stated in an email to The Voice, “Roongo’s is closing due to challenging economic conditions; this change reflects a rightsizing to sustainable business operations for dining on campus. Many of the concepts offered at Roongo’s can be enjoyed elsewhere on campus, like Husky Lounge, where meal swipes are accepted. We will be working with our valued team members there to transfer them to other dining locations.”
