JJ's Place

JJ's Place is the late-night dining location at Columbia that is open from 12:00 PM to 10:00 AM every day. JJ's is located in the basement of John Jay Hall. Like John Jay Hall or Ferris Booth Commons, Columbia students may use a meal plan swipe to gain access. Barnard students can also spend points to access JJ's, although there exists a complicated history of Barnard students being barred from using the facility. The location used to house a student cooperative organic market. It was at one time an on-campus bar, serving alcohol to upperclassmen.

JJ's menu features chicken tenders, burgers, smoothies, fries, and other artery-clogging options, as well as a salad bar. The staff is also fun, nice, and all-around awesome. There is a candy-by-the-pound rack and a small "mini-mart" section where you can use swipes to purchase various grab-n-go snacks and drinks. The to-go section is also an abysmal deal, considering that only 4 items, each worth less than a dollar, will cost you a full meal swipe.

History

Prior to JJ's Place, the basement of John Jay Hall was occupied by the Lion's Den. When the Den moved to Ferris Booth Hall, the space was renamed the "Crown Room", although undergraduates were at times excluded from the space. Later, part of the Crown Room became the "John Jay Pub", which closed in the summer of 1985 after New York raised its minimum drinking age to 21, effectively killing off its business. The space was then renamed the "John Jay Lodge" following a renovation that gave it a hunting lodge theme (though some students uncharitably compared the decor to a "French harlot house" and the "Amityville Horror.")

Interior

JJ's has OK seating with lots of tacky timber. LCD televisions were installed in 2006 at each booth, and there's a television at the far end of the room which primarily features ESPN, though can be changed to different channels using the handy channel up/down buttons on the front. It also has wifi. They have a foosball table.

It was recently renovated in the summer of 2012, turning its once run-down appearance into a dining hall reminiscent of Applebee's, complete with sound system and bright orange and green paint. There's used to be a (broken) air hockey table, as well as a Jamba Juice machine with various flavors. Rumor is the CEO of Jamba Juice's daughter, who attends Columbia, made this happen.

The facility was originally designed to resemble a German rathskeller, which explains the roof beams. A heaving stone hearth off to one side bears an inscription memorializing Columbians who lost their lives in the First World War.

Opening hours

JJ's is open from 12PM to 10AM daily. During the academic school years of 2021-2023, it closed at earlier times.

Initially, it was closed on weekend nights, but starting in Fall 2011, JJ's Place opened on weekend nights as well.

Location	Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
JJ's Place	12:00 p.m - 10:00 a.m