California Baptist University’s Sunday brunch remains a quiet campus tradition enjoyed by students, families and staff each weekend. Over the past few weeks, however, the Alumni Dining Commons filled with members of the Riverside community and visitors from beyond the area.
On Jan. 1, social media influencer @whatsupwithriverside posted a video on TikTok and Instagram that reached more than 1 million combined views. The post brought increased attention to the brunch and attracted new visitors to campus on Sundays.
Students who live on campus and stay on weekends were familiar with CBU’s Sunday brunch.
Thomas Staub, junior psychology and Christian studies double major, said he enjoyed both the food and the company.
“I enjoy the food, I enjoy seeing all my friends… everyone goes on Sundays,” Staub said.
While the brunch fostered community, its growing popularity created both benefits and challenges.
“It’s more difficult to find a seat… but it’s cool that it’s becoming more popular,” Staub said.
Students expressed excitement about the university’s growing visibility, though increased crowds presented challenges. To address congestion, staff posted a sign outside the dining commons creating two separate lines, one for students and one for guests. The system gave students priority entry.
The diversity of attendees reflected the broader Riverside community, creating opportunities for connection between students and people from a wide range of backgrounds.
“I think its affected Riverside a lot… how vast the demographic is cause you have like young families with little kids all the way up to elderly couples,” Staub said.
The community also included alumni returning to campus, according to Cori Gomez, the Alumni Dining Commons manager.
“The students enjoy interacting with people, getting the fellowship with previous alumni,” Gomez said.
Sundays offered students opportunities to connect with different generations of the CBU community and reflect on how the university evolved over time.
Gomez said one of the main benefits of public attendance was giving visitors a chance to experience the campus.
“Most outside guests don’t realize how beautiful the campus is until you get here,” Gomez said.
She said many visitors drove past the university without realizing what it offered until they experienced it in person, which often encouraged them to return.
Gomez added that guests from outside the university “get to interact with the students and get that fellowship.”
For many Riverside residents, the brunch served as an informal introduction to CBU, offering a glimpse into campus culture and student interaction.
CBU also stood out for its buffet-style brunch, which offered guests a wide variety of options.
Destiny Jara, senior business administration major, said that feature contributed to the brunch’s appeal.
“It’s a buffet-style, and a lot of buffets ever since COVID have been removed,” Jara said.
The format set CBU apart not only through its campus culture but also through its dining experience.
“So for it to be a loved spot in Riverside and then for it to have pretty good pricing and it be pretty friendly for like any allergy or any member, any age… I think that why it draws people to actually wanna try CBU dining,” Jara said.
The Sunday brunch allowed CBU to serve the Riverside community by offering an affordable and accommodating all-you-can-eat option.
As the brunch continued to grow in popularity, the university strengthened connections with both students and guests while serving the broader Riverside community.
