Seton Hall’s Dunkin’ is temporarily closed for renovations until early autumn, University Relations said in an email to The Setonian.
The remodel will follow Dunkin’s Next Gen design standards, which the company launched in 2018 and now has in over 4,000 updated locations as of 2024. Gourmet Dining Services (GDS) is finalizing logistics, but plans to implement enhanced ordering options like mobile ordering and self-serve kiosks.
Faith Hawileh, a sophomore nursing major, said she believes the old Dunkin’s system needed a reboot to allow rewards, but she expressed concern about a possible high influx of mobile orders.
“The thing I might have trouble with is if there[’s] a lot of mobile orders going on,” Hawileh said. “They already get really crowded and backed up as it [is]. If there is more mobile orders coming, I am concerned about ‘Am I still going to get my coffee?’”
Dunkin’, located in the Walsh Library, will be “reimagined” into an extension of the library with new furniture and finishes, according to University Relations. This is the first major renovation since Dunkin’s arrival on campus in 2012.
“If that is gonna be a study spot where people go, there need to be tables and not stupid, silly little whatever calf length tables they [had],” Isabella Laor, junior history major with a minor in Spanish, said. “I need a place to sit down with my coffee, my tea and my food. I want to sit down and enjoy it.”
GDS informed students about the closure on Aug. 21 in their Fall 2025 Dining Hours of Operations email. Additionally, they posted on their Facebook and Instagram accounts regarding the continued closure on Aug. 25.
“I was really stressed out about it when I heard because I heard it over the summer, and I was crashing out,” Christina McCarthy, sophomore political science major, said. “I was posting all over social media because I go to Dunkin’ every single day.”
McCarthy said she didn’t think the Dunkin’ needed a renovation unless they used it to include mobile orders.
“I posted [on social media], and I was trying to make sure that it would be open eventually,” McCarthy said. “I was just thinking why didn’t they do renovations over the summer when no one was here?”
Seton Hall began renovations in July and on track to be completed by early fall, according to University Relations.
“Project timelines are determined in part by our vendor partners, and we appreciate the campus community’s patience as the work is finalized,” University Relations said.
Along with the campus Dunkin’ not accepting any form of mobile rewards, it also did not accept gift cards. For Laor, who prefers Starbucks over Dunkin,’ said the introduction of various ordering options would influence her to visit more often.
“One of the major things that I wasn’t a fan of is that they didn’t take gift cards or the mobile app,” Laor said. “When I would go to order, like I would at home, I’d order to the town one and have to walk there.”
Students are encouraged to visit the Illy Café in Jubilee Hall and Starbucks in the University Center in the meantime, University Relations said.
“I feel like Starbucks is getting really overcrowded right now because everyone is going there to get their coffee,” Hawileh said. “At the same time, hopefully, it just makes Dunkin’ better.”
Calla Patino is the head editor of The Setonian’s Opinion section. She can be reached at calla.patino@student.shu.edu.
