Tiger Hospitality at Towson University Uses Ghost Kitchen to Support Late Night Convenience

According to Aramark Collegiate Hospitality’s StudentLounge insights, today’s college students seek connection, convenience, and variety in campus dining programs. To meet that demand, at Towson University, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality’s Tiger Hospitality has introduced a ghost kitchen that expands dining options while maximizing existing dining space.

At the newest ghost kitchen, Social Bites at Newell Den, students can order through a mobile app and pick up meals from convenient food lockers instead of waiting at a traditional counter; delivery robots can also deliver meals directly, adding another layer of convenience.

Social Bites features a variety of virtual dining concepts, including Flametown Burgers, The Original Hot Chicken, Inked Tacos, Duck Duck Dragon, and Pinsa Pizza, giving students access to multiple cuisine styles from a single location.

"The wide variety of food is impressive, and the birria tacos are fantastic," said one current Towson University student.

Open until midnight, Social Bites helps extend dining access beyond traditional dining hours and provides a convenient late-night option for students. Since opening, Social Bites has driven substantial growth in late-night dining for Tiger Hospitality, with weekday orders increasing by more than 50% compared to the previous year.

Robot delivery has also become a popular fulfillment option. Social Bites averages around 65 robot deliveries per day, helping students receive late night meals where they are.

The concept builds on a successful pilot launched from Newell Dining Hall during the previous academic year. That initial proprietary ghost kitchen served as a proof of concept, helping the team validate student demand for expanded variety, mobile ordering, and flexible fulfillment options before opening Social Bites.

Aramark Collegiate Hospitality StudentLounge insights reinforce the strategy behind concepts like Social Bites, showing that current college students increasingly value dining experiences that combine convenience and flexibility with quality food, menu variety, and accessible service options.