SayGoodnightGracie.Org

At Marist University’s McCann Gymnasium, students say a post-workout meal is turning into a time commitment.

The issue centers on the McCann Café, where gym-goers report long delays for made-to-order items, even when the ordering platform shows a much shorter wait. Students say the time estimates on Grubhub can be misleading, leading them to order food expecting a quick pickup, only to wait 30 minutes or more for simple meals.

For many students, the café is a convenient stop between classes, practices, and campus jobs. When orders run late, that convenience disappears.

“Sometimes the food can take up to an hour to be ready while the wait time will say something like 15 minutes,” said junior Nora Radday. “It’s really annoying when I’m starving after a workout, or especially if I have somewhere to be afterward and have to make the decision of leaving with no food or staying and being super late. It’s gotten to the point where my friends and I just stopped ordering completely from the McCann Café.”

Radday’s frustration reflects a broader complaint heard around the gym: long waits can disrupt tight schedules, particularly for athletes or students who plan meals around workouts. Several students said they now avoid ordering entirely, opting to bring snacks, eat elsewhere, or skip the café during busy hours.

Junior and track athlete Stephania Granados, who has worked at the gym for two years, said the problem has become a frequent topic this semester—especially among student employees who spend long shifts inside McCann.

“Oh yeah, there have been a lot of complaints about the food this semester,” Granados said. “I think it’s more than just a McCann issue, though, and has a lot to do with Grubhub being the middleman. A lot of the cafés have recently been having issues with the service, but yeah—McCann definitely takes the longest. I’m not sure what they need to do to fix it: maybe hire more people if orders come in too quickly, or reach out to Grubhub if it’s a technical issue. But it sucks. I hope they fix it soon because it’s really annoying for the student employees that need to stay there for hours on end.”

Students described the mismatch between estimated and actual wait times as the most aggravating part of the experience. When an app lists a 10–15 minute pickup window, students said they often plan around it—only to be stuck watching the clock, deciding whether to abandon the order or rearrange their day.

For now, regulars say they’re left with a simple request: accurate timing, smoother ordering, and enough staffing or coordination to meet demand. Until then, some Marist students say the McCann Café is less a quick refuel spot and more a gamble—one that can cost them the rest of their schedule.