Student focus groups selected popular Italian brand
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 23, 2014) — Fazoli’s, the nation’s largest premium quick service Italian chain, will soon open its first on-campus unit at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.
To be located in a large food court space in The Market at Stangel/Murdough, the unit will be part of a completely renovated, state-of-the-art food court. Guests will have the option to dine in or carry out food from this on-campus location.
Construction is scheduled to start this spring, with the restaurant to open this fall. TTU operates campus foodservice. It has a licensing agreement with Fazoli’s.
This restaurant is part of Fazoli’s strategic plan to grow through non-traditional locations. Two student focus groups favored Fazoli’s as the first choice of brands they wanted on campus, according to Kirk Rodriguez, director of Hospitality Services. Most of the students were familiar with Fazoli’s from two traditional sites in Lubbock.
“We liked Fazoli’s flexibility in working with us in terms of layout and design,” Rodriguez said. The location will be positioned in a highly visible part of the market near the entrance. Fazoli’s logo and other branding will be displayed prominently, and there will be a digital menu board.”
Fazoli’s will offer a wide variety of fresh, fast Italian selections with most dishes made to order in full view of guests. Signature items on the all-day menu will include fresh salad bowls under 400 calories, oven-baked pastas, build-your-own pasta bowls, classic Submarinos, pizza, breadsticks, sweet treats and beverages.
Guests will have the option of creating their own pasta combinations by choosing from different types of noodles, sauce, meat and vegetables. They also may have their pasta dish oven-baked.
The market will be open seven days a week. Fazoli’s will have the capacity to cater campus events from this unit.
After opening, Fazoli’s plans to showcase it as a prime example of a campus location. The company is seeking similar opportunities with other college and university campuses around the country.
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Lexington, Fazoli’s now numbers nearly 220 company-owned and franchised restaurants and is expanding in selected markets around the United States. Sun Capital Partners acquired the company in 2006.
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