University unions boast new eateries this semester

By Ginnefer Cox

and Caitlin Nish

Daily Staff Reporters

Freshmen are not the only new faces on campus this fall, as renovations have brought four new eateries to the Michigan Underground and Pierpont Commons.

Magic Wok already is open in the MUG, and McDonald's has replaced Little Caesar's Pizza in the Pierpont Commons.

Villa Pizza and Mrs. Field's Cookies plan to open in the Union by the end of next week. Their spaces were formerly occupied by Little Caesar's and Y&S Yogurt.

The leases for both Y&S and Little Caesar's ended this year. Y&S was not interested in staying in the MUG, and the University did not allow Little Caesar's to renew its lease.

"Villa Pizza offers a broader menu base of items than Little Caesar's," said John Brockett, interim director of the University unions.

"Although they will primarily serve pizza, there will be a broader range of foods and dinner style items."

Brockett said the variety of menu items and hours of operation factored into decisions regarding the Union's eateries.

"Where McDonald's opens for breakfast at 8 a.m., Little Caesar's doesn't open until 11 a.m.," Brockett said.

McDonald's also is working with the University to offer a wider selection of food at Pierpont Commons.

McDonald's will be the only eatery in the North Campus union to serve breakfast, and it also plans to experiment with serving deli-style sandwiches and wraps.

The Union's new additions also offer variety.

LSA senior Reena Newton said she looks forward to having new options for food in the Union.

"I am a big fan of Chinese food, and I am happy that the Union will have a Chinese restaurant for me to go to," Newton said.

An advisory board comprised of students, faculty and from the Pierpont Commons, the Union and the Michigan League helped choose the new additions.

"They had input into the companies we were looking at," Brockett said. Negotiations lasted roughly a year, and the committee had hoped to have all the eateries open by the first day of class.

"It would be nice to offer the same things in each building but there are space limitations," Brockett said.

The restaurants in each Union are dependent upon what space is available, and the actual locations of the eateries hinge upon the needs of each operations.

The renovations are the first round of several changes in the unions, as the leases end next year for the Wendy's franchises in the Union and the League and the Subway in the MUG.

"We've been so intent on getting these operations open, we haven't given much thought yet to the others," Brockett said.