Fast food restaurant Wendy’s, which opened on campus in 1989 as part of Price Center’s original food court, served its last meal on April 11 before closing permanently to make room for the extensive construction overhaul of the university hub.
Computer science and engineering professor Serge Belongie (right) and graduate student Andrew Rabinondi stand outside Wendy’s restaurant, which closed down on April 11. It will be replaced by a corridor for the new Price Center expansion.
The space occupied by the hamburger chain will be replaced with a corridor that will link the current food court and the expanded Price Center, which is scheduled to open during winter quarter of 2008.
According to interim University Centers Director Paul Terzino, Wendy’s was chosen as the site of the corridor because of its ideal central location.
The university offered the restaurant a chance to renew its lease at a spot within the Price Center expansion, Terzino said, but Wendy’s declined, citing competition from other food court eateries and declining revenue.
Wendy’s General Manager Joel Cabiles said that the business was losing profits because student organizations often offer free food on Library Walk, deterring potential customers.
“”The rent is too high, and we don’t get enough sales,”” Cabiles said.
Construction of the corridor will begin sometime during the next few weeks, Terzino said. However, a wall will be built in front of the area, so food court customers will remain undisturbed.
The expanded Price Center will feature six additional restaurants and 300 more indoor seats. Other facilities scheduled to open include study lounges, meeting spaces, student organization offices, a grocery store, a full-service bank, a hair salon, an expanded post office and a nightclub.
Last quarter, construction entered the “”flying steel phase,”” which is about 95 percent complete, Terzino said. Workers are putting the finishing touches on the steel infrastructure, and are almost finished with the metal floor decking. In addition, construction on the roof and exterior framing will begin this month.
By June, construction workers will begin installing electrical wiring and plumbing, while construction of the building enclosure will last until August.
Work on the building, including drywall, painting and carpeting, will occur through November.
According to Terzino, a 1,400-square-foot area near the center’s north entrance will be designated specifically for a “”hamburger restaurant.”” However, all types of restaurants are welcome to submit proposals for the six slots, he said.
Student representatives from the University Centers Advisory Board will assist university personnel in the selection process, and final decisions will be made during the summer.
Although a new hamburger restaurant will open, many students said they were upset to see Wendy’s close.
Computer science graduate student Wanyen Lo said she came to Price Center twice weekly to get Wendy’s chicken nuggets.
“”I don’t want it to go,”” Lo said.
John Muir College sophomore Jordan More said he periodically came to Wendy’s because of its speedy service, while Preuss School senior Veronica San said that she ate there about three times a week because of its many low-cost food options.
“”It’s really what I crave, and it’s a lot cheaper than the other places around here,”” San said.
More suggested that Jack in the Box fill the spot previously occupied by Wendy’s, while San said she wanted to see Italian cuisine come to Price Center.
Although students may be unhappy that Wendy’s has closed down, neighboring eateries are hoping to capitalize on former Wendy’s customers.
Panda Express General Manager Juiliang Huang said that she expects her restaurant’s sales to rise by about $500 a day, while Tacone General Manager German Vasquez said he expects students to turn to Tacone because of its status as the only remaining restaurant in Price Center to offer french fries as a menu item.
