University students enjoyed the latest trends in dining around campus this semester  from frozen yogurt to new fast food restaurants.
 
A new Taco Bell opened on Burbank Drive near Mellow Mushroom on Nov. 11, making it the first Taco Bell with a full menu in the campus area.
 
Employee Trey Gibson said a campus-adjacent Taco Bell was needed because the one on campus isn’t a full restaurant.
 
“We’re excited to be here, and hopefully the restaurant will be well-received,” said Gregory Hamer, owner of B&G Food Enterprises, a company that controls chain restaurants like Taco Bell.
 
Five Guys Burgers and Fries started out as a family business in Arlington, Va., but the latest one opened on Corporate Boulevard this semester.
 
Billy Jacob, owner of the Baton Rouge franchise, said he doesn’t want his operation to be any different from the home-style Virginia business.
 
Five Guys opened Monday, Sept. 27, at Towne Center on Corporate Boulevard and specializes in burgers, fries and hot dogs with more than 625 locations across North America. But it’s new to Louisiana, and Jacob thinks there’s a space for Five Guys to fill.
 
“It’s a step above the fast-food burger place. We’re not trying to intrude on [the burger culture] of Baton Rouge. It’s just that there’s a niche for us,” Jacob said.
 
Local business owners also jumped on the snack wagon this past summer to join the frozen yogurt craze, following the lead of national chains like TCBY and Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, as well as Baton Rouge staple Counter Culture.
 
Marlana DiVincenti, University alumna and owner of Splendido! Frozen Yogurt Bar on Highland Road, said she became obsessed with frozen yogurt after visiting places that serve it in larger cities like Dallas.        
 
“I love the do-it-yourself quality,” DiVincenti said. “You can get as much or as little as you want, and you can top it with just about anything.”
 
Menchie’s, which already has a location in the Mall of Louisiana, is one of several businesses now in the North Gate area, near Highland Road and West State Street.
 
The development in the North Gate area was built by Campus Apartments and was dubbed College Row.
 
Buffalo Wild Wings, Shanghai Tokyo Restaurant and PJ’s Coffee are some of the other establishments  coming to College Row in the future.
 
A new CVS Pharmacy had its grand opening Aug. 22 after more than 20 years without a pharmacy in the North Gate area, and Pita Pit, a pita wrap alternative to sandwich shops, opened Sept. 3.
 
After a location on Acadian burned down in January, CVS saw the opportunity to open a new store closer to LSU, said James Hudgins, CVS district manager.
 
 
 
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Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]