An Ode to Corelife
Down the street from Ithaca’s beloved Wegman’s was once a place many Cornell students loved and dearly miss: Corelife Eatery.
Corelife was home to one of the only crafted salad and bowl restaurants in the local area. With the super fresh and natural ingredients, it was a great healthy alternative, which is especially important for college students. All of the ingredients used were free of GMOs, trans fats, artificial colors and additives, and sweeteners. Having eaten Corelife myself many times last year, I can attest that it was extremely healthy and delicious. You wouldn’t even know it was so healthy from how good it tasted!
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Corelife closed. The sign still hangs over the old location, deceiving those who don’t know it’s no longer open. As of now, it is unknown if Corelife will return in a different location, or if the closure is temporary or permanent. Based on the fact that it has been “temporarily closed” since April, and Ithaca is currently crowded as ever with classes in session, most of the hope of it reopening has been lost.
What I personally miss the most from Corelife’s closure is having a go-to healthy lunch or dinner spot in Ithaca. Our community is lucky enough to have tons of amazing restaurants, but many of them do not have a classic salad or bowl. What was great about Corelife was that I was able to customize my bowls or salads however I wanted. Of course I had some classics, but let’s be honest who doesn’t, and I miss them so much.
Ithaca needs to make up for the loss of Corelife, and institute a new salad place for students to get healthy meals on the go. Something as common as a Chop’t or Sweetgreen would be a great replacement. Even other smaller salad chains, like Corelife, would do the trick. Students can go in and out of these places, get a customized healthy meal of their choice, and feel better about their decision when ordering food off-campus.
Although nothing will replace Corelife’s signature salads and bowls, Cornell students like myself are craving something healthy in the heart of Collegetown or the Commons to satisfy their hunger, diets, and taste buds in a healthier way.
