OPINION: Wells Dining is a relatively new addition to the campus food scene. It had been a traditional dining hall along with York and Hilltop for years. Unfortunately, the summer before the Class of ‘26 moved in, the University of Maine Dining made the decision that Wells Dining would not be open the following year. After Sodexo took over during my freshman year, rumors and promises regarding the future of Wells Dining circulated for about two years.
My sophomore year, we found out that Sodexo was planning to turn Wells Dining into a ‘virtual dining concept’ and create a 24/7 market with Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology. This was received with mixed opinions. Some were concerned about the JWO technology after reports that its “advanced AI-powered detection system” was actually powered by employees in India monitoring the system in real-time. There was also some skepticism around the idea of implementing ghost kitchens like Mr. Beast Burger as opposed to real cooked-in-a-kitchen food like in the dining halls.
I was one of those students who were very skeptical about the concept and the failure to deliver on promises by Sodexo, who kept moving the opening date back further and further. During my third year, Wells Dining opened for good, and I was pleasantly surprised by the services offered. The ghost kitchens were certainly there, but there was also the option to order pub-style food and softer alcoholic drinks like beers and seltzers. Although the pub food was decent at best and wouldn’t be considered high-quality in a proper dining establishment, it was still one of the better options available on campus.
I’ve told multiple friends about the glory of Wells Central Poutine and how it was a great space to meet up with friends and order some decently edible pub-style food. Then, one day, it went away.
Towards the end of last year, Wells Dining stopped serving pub food. I heard multiple reasons for this, but a common trend seems to be related to staffing and Sodexo not wanting to pay staff at the pub full-time. I was distraught when I went to Wells Dining and wasn’t able to order any food for the first time last semester, and I had the same experience going this semester. I had assumed that the new year meant that Sodexo would’ve had it sorted, but this was not true.
I went to Wells Dining again a few weeks ago and found that the kiosks would finally allow me to order the pub poutine I had come to know and love. However, the kiosk wouldn’t let me order with my dining dollars. I was told I could do it through the app, but it automatically stops taking orders roughly an hour before the kitchen closes. There was also an option on the kiosk to use dining funds by scanning a badge, but like most students, I don’t have a physical Mainecard. There was a keycard reader much like the ones used in the union attached to the machine as well, but it simply didn’t work.
Wells Dining needs to recapture the glory it had last year as a functioning pub. The goodwill that they had earned is going to be squashed by the inability to order food through a real person and to pay with dining funds. The kiosks that barely work and the app that cuts off orders early are only hurting Wells Dining and undermining the promises made by Sodexo.
