The Lawrence campus gained a new food vendor after weeks of looking. The vendor will be El Taller, which operates a restaurant at 275 Essex St., only a couple blocks from the Lawrence Campus.  The El Taller location offers wifi access, breakfast, lunch and dinner options, 2 floors of event space and more.

When asked about the new vendor, NECC’s Director of Administrative Services, Michael Pierce said, “We think the menu, pricing and activities they have proposed will be exciting and well accepted in the college community.”

Not only is El Taller close in proximity to the college, but they also offer food and beverages, and support education and the community.  Initially, the operation will be open for breakfast and lunch.  The need for evening service will be assessed at a later point in time.  According to NECC’s Director of Campus Operations and Procurement Martha Leavitt, “El Taller are working with a local nutritionist and possibly a Culinary Institute of America graduate to develop the full menu.”

Pierce also stated, “When the previous vendor decided to leave we were tasked with trying to find a way to provide food service on the Lawrence campus.  Through some community connections the college started to negotiate with El Taller as a test of what might be possible.  We were so impressed with their ideas we moved forward to get something in place.”

Eric Guerrero of El Taller was very clear with Leavitt that he wanted to “create a space, and not just serve food.”

The operations are expected to be up and running in the next seven to ten days after more equipment arrives and their final inspection is completed.