Students visiting the Union this summer may notice not only the thousands of incoming freshmen but also the construction in the Tiger Lair.
David Pratka, director of retail dining for the University, said a Blimpie’s and a Mexican restaurant, Habanera’s, will be added to the Tiger Lair for the Fall semester.
“We try to do something new every year,” Pratka said. “We finally came to agreements with Blimpie’s.”
Pratka said the Blimpie’s will replace Upper Crust, and Habanera’s will take the place of Bengal Bowls, which was next to Chick-fil-A.
“The Bengal Bowls weren’t that big of a hit,” Pratka said.
Mass Communication senior Kelly Lind said she thinks the new restaurants are a good idea.
“That’s great,” she said. “I think you’ll be able to have more choices [with Blimpie’s].”
Lind also said she likes the bread at Blimpie’s better than Upper Crust’s.
Pratka said there previously was a successful Mexican restaurant in the Tiger Lair that was replaced to give students something different. However, he said customer surveys showed many students asked for a return of Mexican food.
“I liked it when they had the Mexican restaurant before,” said ISDS senior, David Madaffari. “I was disapointed when they took it away.”
Madaffari also hopes because Blimpie’s is a national chain restaurant it will be cheaper than Upper Crust.
Pratka said the new restaurants should be finished the second or third week in August and definitely will be finished before school starts.
“I’m not one for Mexican food,” said mass communication junior Brad Golson. “But I think I’ll definitely take advantage of the Blimpie’s.”