A little more than two years after its groundbreaking, the first phase of the Talley Student Union will open today at 4 p.m.

Students now have access to four new dining options and the Tally Market. This is the first of three openings during the next year and a half. When the full building opens in 2015, there will be even more dining options plus the bookstore and all other student organization spaces. 

“We are really excited to be able to finally give a date to our students because we know that they have been waiting very patiently. We look forward to the reactions of the students when they come through the doors,” said Jennifer Gilmore, director of communications for campus enterprises.

Tally features Jason’s Deli’s first college location campus, Tuffy’s Diner, Los Lobos Mexican grill and Red Sky Pizza Company. 

Tuffy’s Diner has breakfast in the morning including waffles shaped like Tuffy’s head, dining food in the afternoon and a combination of both at dinner. Students can get pizza made from scratch in a wood stove fire deck at Red Sky Pizza. 

The Tally Market has groceries, a Howling Cow ice cream section and a bakery section with a new executive pastry chef with a line of fresh baked goods. 

“We are really excited because we have been working for three years on planning and designing the facility, menus, and the recipes from the ground up,” Gilmore said.

Randy Lait, the senior director of hospitality services in Campus Enterprises. 

Lait said the Student Union makes a statement about the commitment the University has to its students. 

“If you look at what N.C. State is doing with the Talley Student Union, it is really making a positive statement about our commitment to our students, not only for the food but for what the entire building will mean to the student population,” Lait said.