5 new restaurants move into Purdue's Memorial Union as new semester begins

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Just over two years after the Purdue Memorial Union unveiled a $47 million facelift to its underground restaurant and retail area, the space is seeing another wave of changes as a new school year begins.

Of the 12 restaurant and retail options in the Memorial Union's basement, five have been replaced. The five restaurants leaving are BBQ District, Burger 101, Chef Bill Kim's, Fresh Fare and Pizza & Parm Shop.

Mistee Saylor, marketing manager for Purdue Food Co., said the changes are due to a combination of things, such as contractual agreements coming to an end and responding to student feedback. Although some of that feedback pertained to food options available, Saylor said they also heard students' thoughts on affordability.

"(Students) like they bang for their buck; they don't want to pay too much for their food," Saylor said. "So we looked at other places around town to look at the going costs for this and that."

After the university opted to eliminate "retail swipes" from dining packages in the coming year, Saylor said Purdue Food Co. opted to craft value menu options across its retail restaurants with offerings for under $10 for students to use their dining dollars.

"All of this is a big change for students. They have new things to choose from and new payment methods to use," Saylor said. "But it does simplify it a lot for them to just be able to use meal swipes at the dining halls and then understand that something else is used over here."

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Here's what all will be available this year in the Memorial Union basement level.

Aatish

A halal contemporary kitchen, Aatish serves customers assembly line-style to craft either a rice bowl, lettuce bowl or a pita sandwich. Diners can choose between chicken tikka, beef shish kebab, falafel or lamb and beef schwarma for their protein.

Anyway You Slice It

Offering pizza by the slice, calzones and breadsticks, Anyway You Slice It will be a newcomer to the Memorial Union in August. Alongside those traditional Italian-American flavors, Anyway You Slice It will also offer breakfast pizza and cinnamon rolls.

Burgers + Fries

Another build-your-own model, Burgers + Fries will focus on customizing your own meal to suit individual tastes.

DSJ Asian Grill

In the space formerly occupied by Chef Bill Kim's, DSJ Asian Grill will be operated by the same group behind Sushi Boss, allowing the two restaurants to share a kitchen space, Saylor said.

Offering some Asian-American classics like orange chicken and beef stir fries, DSJ Asian Grill will also offer classic sides like crab rangoons and spring rolls.

FoodLab

Another newcomer to the Memorial Union, Saylor said FoodLab will offer a different menu each semester in an effort to add continued variety for diners on a more regular schedule.

Starting off for the fall semester, FoodLab will feature a Mexican-style menu, offering options of hand-crafted burritos, tacos and bowls.

Rose Market

First opening as a market-style grocery store in downtown Lafayette in 2021, Rose Market has grown and expanded to offer gluten-free baked goods with an emphasis on dairy-free and gluten-free flavors.

Saylor said Purdue Food Co. had been interested in bringing in a local baked goods vendor, causing the company to approach Rose Market for the opportunity, having built a strong relationship with them through their catering opportunities.

Tenders, Love & Chicken

Tapping into the popularity of fast food-style chicken, Tenders, Love & Chicken will offer a variety of poultry options comparable to that of national chains, Saylor said.

Zen

Much like its neighboring restaurants around the Memorial Union, Zen thrives on a build-your-own poké rice bowl concept, offering pre-designed menu options or a la carte-style.

Starbucks

The national chain allows for mobile ordering to skip the line, or ordering through university's Starship delivery robot program.

Sushi Boss

Sharing its kitchen with DSJ Asian Grill, Sushi Boss offers classic flavors that can be made into a traditional sushi roll or made as a rice bowl.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

A Cajun-inspired restaurant franchise owned by Purdue alum and former NFL quarterback Drew Brees, the full-service restaurant offers a sit-down experience for patrons looking to sit and relax while dining on campus.

New this semester, Walk On's will begin validating two hours of parking for patrons, Saylor said, hoping to lure local residents who are unsure of their ability to find free parking around campus.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: 5 new restaurants move into Purdue's Memorial Union as new semester begins