Ithaca Bakery Opens in IC Square

By Dan Verderosa, August 28, 2019

Ithaca College Dining adds loads of local options to its offerings.

Young people outside a food court location

Students in line at the new Ithaca Bakery location in the IC Square Food Court.

(Photo by Natalie Jenereski/Ithaca College)

Ithaca Bakery held the grand opening of its new location in the Ithaca College Campus Center on Wednesday, August 28. The eatery is just one of several local favorites to arrive on campus since the college brought Dining Services “in house” over the summer.

A local favorite for more than 100 years, Ithaca Bakery will offer sandwiches, soups, salads, bagels and baked goods in the IC Square Food Court.

“This is exactly the kind of partnership we envisioned when we made the decision to operate our own dining program,” said Bill Guerrero, the college’s vice president for finance and administration. “We look forward to introducing this mainstay of the local community to the campus community as an additional appealing meal or snack option.”

Ithaca Bakery co-owner Gregar Brous is an IC alumnus, graduating in 1981 with a bachelor’s in sociology.

A group of people with a banner outside a food court location

Ithaca College’s senior leadership joined Ithaca Bakery co-owner Gregar Brous ’81 for a ribbon-cutting ceremony in IC Square. (Photo by Natalie Jenereski/Ithaca College)

“This is an exciting time for Ithaca Bakery. As an alumnus of Ithaca College, I am thrilled to partner with this local institution and continue to deepen our relationship,” said Brous, who also owns local restaurant chain Collegetown Bagels. “This is a great example of a successful town-gown collaboration in action.”

Ithaca Bakery is just one of several new dining options available to the IC community. Wednesday was also the grand opening of Chick-N-Bap, which serves Korean-inspired New York City street food, like chicken-and-rice platters. Founded by a SUNY Binghamton college student, Chick-N-Bap is also located in the IC Square Food Court.

“It’s a little different than regular dining hall food,” said Laney Sodoma ’23. “It’s really good.”

The Campus Center Café, which is due to open in September, will feature coffee from Ithaca-based coffee roaster and retailer Gimme! Coffee and ice cream from Purity Ice Cream. Purity owner Heather Lane graduated with her MBA from IC in 2010. Purity Ice Cream will also be available in the new Towers Marketplace. Gimme! Coffee is also available in the Park School and School of Business cafes.

People standing in a food court with a ribbon and large scissors

Chick-N-Bap held its IC Square grand opening on August 28.

(Photo by Natalie Jenereski/Ithaca College)

Another local favorite, Ithaca Coffee Company, will be available in the Towers Marketplace and the Library Café. The Library Café location features a state-of-the-art Modbar autobrew system for espresso drinks, as well as brewed-to-order coffee and baked goods. Both locations will serve cold brew coffee.

“I think it’s so much better,” Sandy Cohen-Alpert ’21 said about the new choices. “There are so many more options.”

IC decided in spring 2019 not to renew its contract with Sodexo to operate its campus dining program, opting instead to take those operations “in house” in order to improve programming, simplify meal plans and lower costs to both the college and its students. In July, the college entered into a partnership with Cornell University to acquire services and tools that will support the college’s transition to a self-operated campus dining program.

Learn more

For more information about IC Dining, including hours of operation, visit Ithaca.edu/dining.

Marisa Thomas ’22 contributed to this story.