USF’s decision to replace ‘cultural icon’ Pollo Tropical is disappointing, students say – The Oracle

Upon arriving in Tampa, Ana Hernandez, a criminology major, said she felt a bit of culture shock. Hernandez, who moved to Miami from Venezuela as a child, had a hard time finding familiar food as often as she did in Miami, where the Hispanic community is larger.

Pollo Tropical on the USF campus, just a short walk from the buildings where most of her classes are held, provided her with a bit of respite. There, she could rediscover familiar flavors.

“I lived at Juniper Poplar for the first year and they have nights where they serve Mexican or Cuban food, but that only lasts a week,” she said. “Pollo was always there.”

However, the restaurant will be replaced new on campus Chick fil-A This fall.

The decision has sparked outrage among students like Hernandez, who are concerned about the lack of diversity in dining options on campus.

USF Dining spokeswoman Jessica Cicalese said the partnership with Pollo Tropical will not be ended due to the restaurant change.

“Pollo has proven to be a great brand partner and we look forward to continuing this partnership on campus in a new location in the future,” she said.

Cicalese did not provide details on when USF will have a new Pollo Tropical campus.

The new Chick fil-A restaurant will be the chain’s second location on campus, in addition to the one at the Marshall Student Center (MSC) – which is just a 10-minute walk away. The first location opened in fall 2019.

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It will be located in Sessum’s Mall, right next to University Lecture Hall and across from Cooper Hall and the Judy Genshaft Honors College. It will offer breakfast options and longer hours than MSC Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A at MSC does not serve breakfast. It is open from 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and until 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The restaurant is closed on Sundays.

Chick-fil-A’s menu includes chicken sandwiches and nuggets, as well as salads, macaroni and cheese, waffle fries and milkshakes.

Hernandez said the new Chick fil-A location is necessary because the one already in MSC is very crowded, but added that there is no need to get rid of Pollo Tropical.

“I think it’s a good idea that they’re going to have a bigger menu and breakfasts, but I feel like Pollo also offers other alternatives and I think it’s one of the healthier options on campus,” she said.

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Pollo Tropical is a Florida-based restaurant chain founded in Miami in 1988, offering a wide variety of Spanish and Caribbean-inspired dishes such as sweet plantains, black beans, Cuban sandwiches and more.

Cicalese said the decision to open a second Chick fil-A on the USF Tampa campus “reflects the university’s commitment to enhancing campus life by providing students with diverse and popular dining options on campus.”

According to Cicalese, a demand study conducted at the beginning of fall 2022 asked students about their preferences and found that a majority of students named Chick fil-A as their favorite restaurant on campus.

Audrey Zilay, a third-year professional and technical communication student, said she was “discouraged” by the decision to replace Pollo Tropical with a Chick-fil-A restaurant because the restaurant is already on campus and the distance between the two is too small.

USF Dining announced the replacement of Pollo Tropical with a new Chick fil-A restaurant in an Instagram post on its account on June 26. The post drew about 30 comments from students who disagreed with the change, with only one in favor.

Hernandez said that although the Pollo Tropical restaurant is across the street from campus on Fowler Avenue, having the restaurant on campus is convenient because students can pay with their dining dollars.

Zilay said the decision was disappointing given the cultural significance of Pollo Tropical.

“It’s probably the only place or one of the few places where people of Latino and Caribbean descent can get food that they know,” Zilay said. “I think it’s pretty sad to take away from USF such a huge cultural icon and something that kind of represents South Florida.”