A Place to Be Filled
An Appreciation of Gwinn Commons
If you’re almost late for something important, but you forgot to grab lunch, would you skip a meal in favor of being on time? Even the most responsible person might have trouble making the decision between class or a boring meeting and a lively meal at Gwinn Commons. There are so many aspects to consider that, quite possibly, eating at Gwinn might end up being more important in the long run than whatever else to which you would otherwise rush off. Maybe you would meet your future spouse at Gwinn, or have a radically life-changing encounter with God while blissfully savoring the taste of your meal. After all, how important could anything else be when compared with the wellness and wholeness of your soul?
Gwinn Commons, formally known as the “Crossroads at Gwinn Commons,” has had a long history at Seattle Pacific University (Morgan). It had its origins in the same timeframe as the Space Needle, the early 1960’s, and its original aesthetics were a testament to the predominant culture during its construction:
The new dining commons, which began serving meals in 1962, was under construction while Seattle prepared for its World’s Fair, Century 21….The two newest dormitories and the new dining commons were opened for both alumni and other visitors to the Fair.… With the site of the Fair less than two miles from the campus, it became a convenient accommodation for tourists. (McNichols 126)
Because of the popular architecture design surrounding the World’s Fair, the first iteration of Gwinn Commons ended up looking like a high-end Dick’s Drive-In burger shop. As this look became old-fashioned, plans were created to renovate the building and give it a brand-new look.
Gwinn Commons is located on the western side of Seattle Pacific University’s campus. There is a dining area directly to the right of the entry, and in front of the entry is a display table showcasing the currently available meals. Farther ahead is the desert table and the salad bar, and beyond that is the main area for acquiring food. The kitchen is behind the main serving area. To the left of the entrance is a counter with various beverage dispensers, and beyond this counter is a large seating area. A fireplace is around the corner to the left. The walls on both the right and left side of the entrance are made of glass, so there is plenty of natural lighting during the daytime. Three banners hang from the ceiling, each with a quote or two about food written on them. One of them says, “Let the stoics say what they please, we do not eat for the good of living, but because the meat is savory and the appetite is keen. — Ralph Waldo Emerson”. The smells and sounds that Gwinn offers depend on which part one observes them from. The dining area is usually filled with chatter from friends talking, and songs from the overhead speakers can occasionally be heard above the dull roar of the talking. Near the kitchen, however, those sounds are overcome by the sizzling of meat and the sounds of kitchen utensils. Each food station offers a different scent depending on what meal each one is serving at the time.
Gwinn was renovated during the spring and summer months of 1999, and was set to be operational again by September. During the spring quarter, however, temporary dining arrangements had to be made (Reitmeier). During the time that Gwinn was unavailable, students walked or were shuttled to the nearby Stearns Warehouse to get their food (Reagan). The Stearns Warehouse was located on West Nickerson Street and was about a seven-minute walk away from Gwinn.
Once the renovations were almost complete, and students were allowed inside to eat again, Gwinn quickly gained a new nickname, “Zion Lodge”. The name seemed fitting, since the style of the commons was meant to resemble an REI type of “indoor outdoors” theme. In addition to this Northwestern theme, the concrete pillars and floors reminded many students of the Stearns Warehouse where they had previously been eating. The inclusion of a fireplace was the crowning addition to the “lodge” look. Not only did public opinion of the aesthetics improve, but there were noticeable improvements in the quality of the food, and more people could be seated in the dining room at a time than in the previous building (Walton).
Mr. Wells Gwinn, for whom Gwinn Commons is named, was a member of the board of trustees from 1915 to 1947 and was a chairman of the board from 1937 to 1946 (McNichols 105). He supervised the building of SPU’s first gymnasium in 1921, as well as a new auditorium that would later be named after Charles S. McKinley (McNichols 61, 79–80). He was specifically recognized during the events of SPU’s first Founder’s Day on October 19th, 1960 (McNichols 124). Other than being the building’s namesake, he has very little connection to the building itself.
I venture over to Gwinn Commons at least once every day, as it is my main source of food. In addition to supplying my body with vital nutrients, it also supplies my soul with vital community by offering the opportunity to meet other students with whom I would not have otherwise crossed paths. The large, open dining area provides the perfect seating arrangement to keep people from finding an excuse to sit by themselves. Being an introvert, I find it hard to seek out new people to talk to. Being in Gwinn makes it hard to seek out a chair that doesn’t make it easier to find someone to start a conversation with. In addition to keeping me in contact with other people in a social setting, Gwinn also provides me with an atmosphere where I can slow down and relieve stress from my fast-paced week in the world of academia. In addition, inviting my family in to share a cup of hot chocolate by the fireplace is always a nice way to chase the cold away and start the weekend right.
While Gwinn Commons is primarily used as a means of acquiring meals throughout the day, that is not the only service that this versatile building provides. I take a weekly trip to the upper floor of Gwinn to attend GROUP, a young adults group that has been meeting above the dining hall since January 2000 (Smithhart). GROUP uses this space to worship God and build a community of Christian students. I have also used the conference area above the dining hall for various other events. One such event enabled me to meet with several great minds in my intended major, and the new student orientation made use of the space numerous times during my first week at SPU.
Not everything about Gwinn Commons is happy-go-lucky, however. Dining plans cost a pretty penny, and if you happen to live in the SPU residence halls, as I do, you are required to pay for one of the meal plans offered at Gwinn. In fact, some of the student loans I took out go towards paying for my dining plan. If I were not required to purchase a dining plan, I could eat much cheaper food, and since I qualify for food stamps, I wouldn’t have to worry about going hungry. Overall, though, I would say that the positives of eating at Gwinn outweigh the negatives in the long run.
Since Gwinn provides students with food, it is easy to see why it is a favorite campus location for many. Its inherent popularity has caused it to grow its own personality. Thanks to the students who utilize it and the staff who work there, the dining area has developed its own mini-culture. Some aspects of what defines the atmosphere in Gwinn are time specific and die out after certain people or classes move on from SPU, but others become traditions, such as applauding whenever the crash of a broken dish is heard (Schenck). Along with the traditions, some people who have become more than just staff became a core part of why Gwinn is so well-loved. Due to people like these, Gwinn has had several unofficial mascots over the years.
One of Gwinn’s “mascots” is a man dubbed “William, King of Gwinn”. William Holmes, a chef who worked as the greeter and cashier for Gwinn, built up a reputation for himself. He started working for SPU in January, 2008, and from the day he began interacting with the students, he made it his personal mission to get to know each and every one of them by name. It was very important to him that “students know somebody besides parents care about their well-being”. Once the students got to know him, he started clowning around with them and trying to find new ways to put a smile on everyone’s face (Farance). In addition to being an integral part of the Gwinn experience, he was always willing to share his faith and pray with students (“William, King of Gwinn”).
Jack LaRose, one of the Gwinn cashiers who preceded William, is another person very dear to the hearts of people fortunate enough to have eaten at Gwinn while he worked there. Just like William, Jack was filled with joy when he got to have personal relationships with the students. He commented on how much he enjoyed interacting with them, saying, “I love talking to them [students], listening to them and just watching how they react to life.” He loved the students, and the students loved him just as much, as evidenced by numerous accounts of students writing comment cards to ask why he was no longer there to greet them when they walked in. It turned out that he had been assigned to the dish pit, but because the students loved him so much, he was later switched to bussing tables so that he could continue to interact with the students (Valentine).
While the cashier is there to be a friendly face to greet anyone who enters Gwinn, they also have the unfortunate job of being the one to tell late arrivals that Gwinn is closed and that food will have to wait until it opens again. Twice I have journeyed over to Gwinn and been turned away just as the door was being locked. My plight and the situation of the cashier who must turn me away both remind me of Henri Barbusse’s short story, The Eleventh, which we read in class. Barbusse tells of how he was chosen to allow ten vagabonds access to a palace-like hospital for a month, and how he was devastated each time he had to turn away the eleventh, who had just barely missed the window of opportunity. In this comparison, I am the eleventh vagabond seeking the food and shelter that Gwinn has to offer. The cashier smiles and welcomes all those who came before me, but like Barbusse shutting the door in the face of the eleventh, sadly informs me that I have missed my chance.
Gwinn Commons is what it is today because of the people who serve and are served inside it. Those people originally wanted something that looked like it was from the 60’s because those people were eating at Gwinn during the 60’s. As time went on, Gwinn was changed to reflect the newer generations of students. What went on inside the dining hall was above and beyond a standard restaurant experience because of a few special individuals like the “King of Gwinn” who ensured that everyone had someone to connect with. The Crossroads at Gwinn Commons truly is a place to be filled in regards to your spirit, your emotions, and of course, your stomach.
Works Cited
Farance, Courtney. “Gwinn Worker Ministers to Students.” The Falcon. N.p., 11 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
McNichols, Donald. Seattle Pacific University: A Growing Vision, 1891–1991. Seattle, WA: U, 1989. Print.
Morgan, Paige. “Crossroads at Gwinn…” The Falcon. N.p., 6 Oct. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Reagan, Aubrey. “Warehouse Goes Gormet.” The Falcon. N.p., 29 Jan. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Reitmeier, Lisa. “No Gwinn Come Spring.” The Falcon. N.p., 7 Oct. 1998. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Schenck, Joe. “The Unspoken Rules of Gwinn.” The Falcon. N.p., 12 Feb. 2012. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Smithhart, Noelle. “GROUP Relocates to Third Floor of Gwinn.” The Falcon. N.p., 26 Jan. 2000. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Valentine, Hosanna. “Students Miss Seeing Jack in Gwinn.” The Falcon. N.p., 24 Nov. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
Walton, Jeff. “Restaurant Style Renovation.” The Falcon. N.p., 6 Oct. 1999. Web. 18 Nov. 2016.
“William, King of Gwinn.” Facebook. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2016. <https://www.facebook.com/William-King-of-Gwinn-181696799712/>.
