November 12, 2007

Purdue Memorial Union to celebrate venue openings

An invitation-only reception will be held at Union Commons from 2:30-4 p.m. Thursday.

The public has already had a chance to get a taste of some of the new venues such as Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen, Lemongrass and La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill, said Carol Houston, Purdue Memorial Union's marketing manager.

The final three venues – Flatbreads, Zia Juice and Urban Market – opened last week. The Union Commons renovation was a $7 million project.

"We are proud and excited to showcase all of our new venues as part of the Union Commons area of the Purdue Memorial Union," said Gary Goldberg, director of dining services for Purdue Memorial Union. "We are confident the Purdue community will share our enthusiasm and pride as we enter a progressive new phase of retail dining. The goal of creating a streetscape of new food venues has been completed, and we anxiously await the reaction of our students, staff and visitors."

New Union Commons venues include:

- Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen, a new version of the prior Villa Pizza, which features traditional Italian specialties prepared with "old world" recipes. The menu includes a variety of pizzas, pastas, garlic breadsticks and Pick n Mix, handcrafted salads featuring a large variety of fresh toppings to choose from. Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen opens at 10 a.m. seven days a week.

- La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill, a restaurant featuring south-of-the-border cuisine such as tacos, burritos, salads, quesadillas and nachos that are made with fresh ingredients. The restaurant also has a salsa bar with spicy to mild options. It opens at 10 a.m. every day.

- Lemongrass, which features wok-fired entrees and pho soups, made of vegetables, sauces and spices found primarily in Thailand and Vietnam. Lemongrass opens at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

- Flatbreads, a gourmet sandwich, salad and soup restaurant with an emphasis on hot artisan breads baked in a gas-fired, open-hearth oven. It opens at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday.

- Zia Juice, a new take on the former Freshens in the Union, features freshly squeezed juices and a variety of smoothies and snacks. Zia Juice opens at 8 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.

- Urban Market, an upscale convenience store that features organic, sustainable and natural foods. Loops, a new breakfast bar that offers customers a variety of hot and cold cereals or a chance to create their own cereal combinations, is housed in Urban Market. They open at 7 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Oasis Café, Starbucks, Pappy's Sweet Shop and Sagamore Restaurant also remain open within Purdue Memorial Union.

Houston said Union Commons has contracted with CityBus to have the logos of Union Commons and its venues on one of its buses. The bus will be used mainly for one of the campus loops Mondays through Fridays but also will be seen on regular routes in Lafayette and West Lafayette on the weekends.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Carol Houston, Purdue Memorial Union marketing manager, (765) 494-8974, crhouston@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

Note to Journalists: Journalists are invited to attend the grand opening for the Union Commons from 2:30-4 p.m. Thursday (Nov. 15). The invitation-only reception will feature a sampling of food and drinks from the new venues. The CityBus, featuring the Union Commons logos, also will be on display at 2:30 p.m. To make arrangements, contact Carol Houston, Purdue Memorial Union marketing manager, at (765) 494-8974, crhouston@purdue.edu .

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