After a number of delays, the Moravian Cafes is now scheduled to open sometime around New Year's Day -- nearly three months later than originally expected.
Facilities officials said the most recent delay results from complicated lease negotiations, a lag in the design process and rising construction costs.
The opening date for the cafes at 3401 Walnut St. was already pushed back from the end of October to Nov. 15 for the same reasons.
Other than the underestimation of the amount of time needed to complete the project, officials have not cited any new reasons for the delay.
Construction of a CVS pharmacy -- which is also opening in the space -- is on schedule. The store is set to open in the early spring.
The University expected a cost of about $750,000 to renovate the eateries, but contractor bids ranged from $1.1 to $1.2 million.
The difference prompted the University to employ "value engineering" to trim down unnecessary costs.
As a result of the cuts, specific areas of the space will not have tile finishing. Signage for each of the vendors has also been simplified to reduced costs.
Though the eateries will technically open Jan. 1, the week following this date will be set aside for training employees.
The cafes should be fully ready for students when they return from winter break.
Already, plumbing installation has begun for three of the four vendors -- Gourmet Ice Cream and Yogurt, Quiznos and Famous Famiglia Pizza.
The Taco Bell/KFC is the only vendor that has yet to begin construction.
"It's progressed smoothly, and we're looking forward to completing the project as quickly as possible," Director of Real Estate Operations Ed Datz said.
Undergraduate Assembly Facilities co-Chairs College sophomore Clara Bracke and Engineering sophomore Brett Lacher have assumed active roles in the revitalization of the cafes.
"We're really excited about it because we re-evaluated the cafe, and we think there is going to be a lot more to utilize with the new vendors," Lacher said.
"Students wanted to see more fast food, more name brands, and they wanted a convenience store," Lacher added, "and that's what's going into it, so it's going to reflect what students want."
Lacher and Bracke would not comment on the construction of the cafes.
They are meeting today with Andrew Zitcer, cultural asset manager for Facilities and Real Estate Services, to discuss this project and other real-estate issues.
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