On Sunday, April 12, all the food outlets inside Case Western Reserve University’s Tinkham Veale University Center temporarily shut down after a clogged drain caused wastewater to back up into food preparation areas, creating unsafe conditions for staff and customers.

Students walking through Tink over the weekend noticed a sewage smell, leaving many concerned and confused as Med 23 and Dunkin’—popular weekend lunch spots—were closed. Choolah, Dunkin’, Med 23 and PK remained fully closed on Sunday. Choolah and Dunkin’ reopened on Monday afternoon, while Med 23 and PK resumed operations on Tuesday.

“Because of areas affected by the drain, Med23 and PK required substantial preparation that couldn’t be completed as quickly as Choolah and Dunkin’,” said Aulbrie Kitson, executive director of TVUC and Maltz Performing Arts Center.

First-year student William Song commented on the closure of the food outlets.

“I was very disappointed because I was going to get Med23 for lunch, but then I saw the notification that all the restaurants were closed,” Song said. “On top of that, the smell was horrendous.”

According to food service staff, the problem was first identified during the night of Saturday, April 11, when workers discovered water backing up into workspaces. Staff followed standard after-hours procedures to report the issue, and facilities personnel responded promptly. Due to the complexity of the clog, an outside contractor was brought in to assist with repairs, which were completed on Monday morning.

The drain backup impacted multiple systems necessary for daily operations, including ware washing and sanitizing equipment. The wet floor in food preparation areas also made it unsafe to continue service.

According to Kitson, the primary challenge in resolving the issue was the severity of the clog, which required specialized equipment and external plumbing support. Despite this, the situation was addressed efficiently through coordination between facilities staff and contractors.

The university communicated updates to the campus community through multiple channels, including posts on the TVUC Instagram page, alerts via the Transact Mobile app and signs placed throughout the building.
Although there were no clear warning signs leading up to the incident, Kitson emphasized that drains are regularly maintained and that employees are trained to report issues such as slow drainage or unusual odors. Current preventative measures include monthly grease trap servicing, daily chemical treatments to prevent buildup and routine system flushing during scheduled breaks.
“This incident did not result in any immediate changes to maintenance protocols,” Kitson said.
“However, the situation will be reviewed as part of standard evaluation procedures to determine whether any adjustments are warranted