In a boon to Compass Group and other foodservice employers in the area, Johnson & Wales disclosed plans yesterday to open a culinary college here in 2004.
The university, which will also feature business and hospitality colleges, will absorb J&W's current campuses in Charleston, SC, and Norfolk, VA. However, the multi-campus school said it would maintain a presence in both locations, presumably through internships and other practical study programs.
The Charlotte school will offer both associate (two-year) and bachelor's (four-year) degrees in Culinary Arts. At many of J&W's other locations, such as Providence, RI, the school's presence has given rise to a small but vibrant fine-dining scene.
Classes will begin here in the fall of 2004 with 825 students, according to university officials. Enrollment, they said, will climb to 2,800 by 2007.
J&W's current locations also include Denver and Miami.
One of Charlotte's largest employers is Compass Group, the multi-national foodservice empire that owns Restaurant Associates and Au Bon Pain.
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