Dig the New Digs

For all the faculty, students, and alumni who swear by the sumptuous treats dished up at the Babcock Hall Dairy Store, the store itself hasn't had many fans. Since opening in 1951, the store made do with a dreary little home in the dairy-research building that even kind critics described as functional, but nothing special.

But that may change. After a five-month renovation to spruce things up, visitors to Babcock can have their ice cream cake and eat it, too - in a refurbished setting that evokes a classy bistro. The store reopened in July with a gleaming new look, awash in natural maple, ceramic tile, and stainless steel. The menu boards are now easier to read, and lighting has been improved to make the store cheerier. There are even new logos, the work of undergraduate art students, festooned about.

The store may seem larger, but it's actually the same space used more efficiently. New freezers hold a lot more ice cream, and additional counter space and cash registers help crowd flow. They've even worked in a new sandwich grill.

And, as fans of Babcock have come to expect, the dairy masters have added flavor to the occasion by adding a new flavor. Tasty Trip, a red-and-white twist of vanilla and marshmallow, was unveiled in July as an appreciative nod to John and Donna Hansen, whose donation made the renovation possible. John Hansen is the founder of Kwik Trip convenience stores; he earned his bachelor of science degree in meat and animal science in 1960.

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