Roanoke College opens new Freshens location

Last week, Roanoke College opened its first national chain as a new dining option — Freshens Fresh Food Studio — at 15 North College Ave., next to the Campus Safety office.

Freshens is available to the College community via meal plan swipes or individual item purchase from the menu and also is open to the Roanoke Valley community. Hours and days of operation are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday and open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Freshens will be closed on Saturdays. 

Freshens, with 500 locations nationwide, is known for using clean ingredients to provide healthy meal options. Lunch and dinner menu items include wraps, rice bowls, flatbreads, smoothies and salads. Freshens also has breakfast pockets available from 9:30-11 a.m on days of operation.

The arrival of Freshens has been the buzz on campus since students arrived in August. Now that Freshens has opened, students are looking forward to the convenience the new dining option brings, with its location and hours of operation, especially on the weekends.

“I’m excited for Freshens to open because it offers another food option on Sundays and is convenient for students who spend a lot of time in West [Hall],” said Olivia Simmons ’21.

Students also find the menu options very attractive, as many of the items are not available at the other two dining options on campus.

“I’m looking forward to having new and different options of food to pick from,” said Noah ViPond ’23. “The one thing I’m looking forward to the most is the smoothies.”

Many students echoed ViPond’s excitement for the smoothies. Freshens offers 10 classic smoothies and five wellness smoothies, with all 15 containing 100% clean ingredients. These healthier options are especially appealing to athletes and others who try to maintain healthy eating habits.

“Freshens will be a healthier alternative for pre-practice boosts or a post-practice meal with their protein supplements and healthy ingredients,” said field hockey player Taylor von Schilling ’23. “Because they take meal swipes, I will be able to go there more often and enjoy a variety of healthy options without limiting myself to just salads.”

All meals are served in takeout boxes, as COVID-19 restrictions currently prohibit inside seating; however, outside seating will be available.