Chats TOO! to open in the fall

New late-night dining facility will offer a wider variety of food and more space to socialize. Students tired of choosing between Taco Bell and Tomassito's will be greeted with increased late-night food selection and socializing space when they return to campus in the fall. Chats TOO! is scheduled to open in September below the original Chats in the basement of 1920 Commons, according to Chats Retail Manager Gary Brodbeck. Designed to "appeal to a larger segment of people and provide more space," Brodbeck said Chats TOO! will include several culinary options from Sysco -- the national food service distributor affiliated with the University -- in addition to self-branded concepts. Casa Solana -- a Mexican concept provided by Sysco -- will replace Taco Bell in the original Chats. Because Casa Solana is not a national franchise, Dining Services will not have to pay franchise fees and will be able to provide higher quality food with a minimal price increase, according to Brodbeck. Chats TOO! will also include Block and Barrel Deli, another Sysco concept which already has a location in McClelland Marketplace. At Ken's salad bar -- named after and sponsored by the national salad dressing brand -- customers will be able to prepare their own salads or grab a prepackaged salad. Willie P's -- which derives its name from famous Philadelphian William Penn -- will serve carved sandwiches, mashed potatoes and other homestyle foods similar to the popular Boston Market Chain, while the the Ivy Grill will offer burgers, fries and fish and chips. Beijing Express will move downstairs to Chats TOO! and will probably be open for lunch Monday through Thursday and dinner Saturday and Sunday. Brodbeck said these culinary options reflect student desires. "Not everyone wants pizza or Mexican every night," he said. "Students wanted healthier options like salads and sandwiches and a custom deli." Brodbeck said Chats TOO! will also include more space for social activities. There will be computers with Internet and email access on both floors of Chats, and more TVs and VCRs will be added. "A lot of people depend on Chats as a place to meet and conduct study groups, student government meetings and poetry meetings or just socialize," he said. "We figured the more space available, the better." Brodbeck said that the pit -- the commissary and recreation area in the basement of Hill College House -- will also be revamped. It will cater to students living in Hill and King's Court/English House and will probably include a menu of hot entrees similar to Tomassito's designed to complement the commissary's current offerings. "The menu is still being developed," he said. "We are trying to work in conjunction with the existing commissary, not to compete with them."

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