Murray-Dodge Café reopens in its original location

After a full year of renovations, the Murray-Dodge Café, dubbed Princeton’s hole-in-the-wall space, has resumed its cookie-baking.

The Café, located in the basement of Murray-Dodge Hall adjacent from the University Art Museum, was moved to the Carl A. Fields Center for Equality and Cultural Understanding on Prospect Avenue during the past year due to construction. Since then, the sub-floor has been lowered, a few chalkboards have been removed, and handicap-accessible bathrooms have been added.

Previously, the entire building of Murray-Dodge Hall, which dates to 1900, did not meet some fire code regulations and was not fully accessible to the handicapped.

Murray-DodgeCafé managerLeea Driskell did not respond to requests for comment.

“I can’t even find a space. I don’t have any memory of it being used so much, but it’s now immediately full from 3 p.m. on,” Princeton Evangelical Fellowship (PEF) staff member Anna Megill '06 said. PEF offices are located on the third floor of Murray-Dodge.

The new aesthetic and spaciousness are notable factors in the increased appeal of the Café. “They really made it nicer... they cleaned it up a bit,” Megill explained.

“I think it’s nice; it’s less falling apart,” said Samantha Newman ’18, who said she has been using the quarters intermittently since her freshman year.

Newman, a member of the University's Alcohol Initiative Board, which helps fund the Murray-Dodge Café, said she enjoys the new facility for more than just its pleasing aesthetics. “I like the idea of an open, really chill atmosphere where people can just come and eat cookies and not feel pressured to drink, a great time around the table with friends. The new environment contributes to that,” she said.

The Murray-Dodge Café is also drawing new customers.

“I’m a frosh, so this is totally new. I heard that what they did was lower the floor which I don’t quite understand, but it looks nice. I like that it’s this student run, for the students kind of place, with cookies. I like the whole feel of the place, that sort of not-so-polished aesthetic,” Tajin Rogers '20 said. The Café is one of Roger's top two study spots on campus, he said.

Beyond Café facilities, Murray-Dodge Hall itself has seen a great deal of change as well. The hallways have been widened, staircases have been added, bathrooms have been expanded, and an elevator now runs from the basement to the third floor, Megill said.

The Café offers students a variety of free cookie flavors, including cinnamon almond chocolate chip, Nutella, Earl Grey, and oatmeal raisin, as well as tea to match everySunday through Saturday. cookies are gluten-free for Sundaysand vegan for Wednesdays.