A buffet of new food options will be coming to the House later this year, with construction due to start this summer, according to an email sent to staff from the House chief administrative officer.

Sodexo, which has run House dining services since 2015, is out and will be replaced by Metz Culinary Management beginning in August, according to the email from CAO Catherine Szpindor. 

“Metz, a family-owned business with proven experience in the food service industry, will revamp each location with new and enhanced food offerings and improved integration of technology that will expedite service,” Szpindor wrote in the email.

“Metz will also offer pop-up food stations operated by local Washington, D.C. restaurants,” the email continued.

The change amounts to an almost complete sweep of existing House food options.

CHA Street Food, a Virginia-based Pakistani restaurant, will take over the spot currently occupied by Steak ’n Shake in the Rayburn cafeteria. PX Tacos and Java House, both D.C.-based businesses, will begin operating out of the current Rayburn Common Grounds space. Also in Rayburn, Subway will close up shop but be replaced by another chain purveyor of subs and sandwiches, Jimmy John’s.

In Cannon, Panera Bread will take over for Au Bon Pain, and a coffee cart will remain in the rotunda of the building’s basement but it will be operated by the Black Crown Collective.

“I’m glad we’re getting a Panera. ABP sucks,” said one House staffer who works in Cannon, as the news drew reactions from a hungry congressional workforce that relies on the on-site dining options to get through long days. 

The Longworth Dunkin’, a popular destination for staffers, journalists and visitors to commiserate, will soon transform into a Starbucks. And the Jamba Juice around the corner will be taken over by Freshens, another smoothie joint.

The Ford House Office Building will also add a QDOBA.

Food on the House side has long drawn strong opinions, with many complaining it doesn’t stack up to the offerings in the Senate, including cafeterias managed by Restaurant Associates and the beloved Cups & Company coffee spot.

But on Friday morning, some in the New England delegation were lamenting the loss of Dunkin’. “Come and take it,” Massachusetts Democratic Rep. Lori Trahan posted on X, above an image of a Dunkin’ coffee cup.  

“It breaks my heart to see our Dunkin’ go,” said a senior House Democratic staffer (and New Englander) who requested anonymity because he’s not permitted to speak to the press. “I’m going to miss sitting down for a coffee trying to connect with a colleague to advance my career as someone from the counter is yelling about someone’s bacon, egg and cheese order.”

Still, the staffer said he was mostly excited about the changes.

“We need more small businesses and a food management company that offers good food and cares about their workers. If that means we have to lose a Dunkin’, then I’m all for it,” he said.

In her email to staff, Szpindor described the changes as the outcome of “an extensive evaluation of House food services and the thousands of responses you shared in our anonymous food survey.”

Sodexo’s contract with the CAO was up for renewal this year.

House cafeteria workers, represented by Unite Here Local 23, negotiated a new deal with Sodexo in 2024 that included hourly pay bumps and stronger benefits. That contract applied to around 100 House cafeteria workers.

“Incoming vendors are being encouraged to consider retaining Sodexo staff who are interested in remaining in the House,” CAO spokesperson Samantha Carter said via email Friday. “That said, all staffing decisions are at the sole discretion of the vendors, both outgoing and incoming.”

Trade Center Management Associates will take over in-house catering, and Monumental Vending Inc. will manage all campus micro-store locations.

Szpindor wrote that food would continue to be available even as construction starts.