Don Memo Mexican Restaurant will be coming to campus next month, the University announced Sunday.
The popular Mexican BYOB restaurant closed last June after operating for what seemed like all eternity at its Upper Darby location, even though the establishment appeared to bring in $80,000-90,000 each weekend from Penn students.
"We can't wait to get #borracho with you at UPenn," the restaurant tweeted from its @DonMemoPhilly account.
The restaurant was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants to fill the vacant lot at 40th and Sansom streets, the former location of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Though Facilities and Real Estate Services had previously selected several small retail stores for the location, FRES Vice President Anita Johnstein said that the University wanted to give students more options to get drunk near campus.
“Given the crackdown of the state police on off-campus parties, we wanted to provide more safe spaces for students to get drunk,” Johnstein said.
The new restaurant will span two floors, including seating for 150 — enough for even the largest student groups to get rowdy. Features will include a karaoke corner and a sombrero-shaped ice luge. Every inch of the building, including the entire facade, will be painted lime green.
“This is literally the most exciting thing that’s ever happened at Penn,” College freshman Emily Fishler said. “All everyone has talked about since I’ve come here is how there are no more good BYOs anymore, and I’m tired of raw noodles at Banana Leaf.”
Fishler said she has already booked reservations for all 14 of her student groups in the first month of the restaurant’s opening.
The administration is equally excited to experience the restaurant given its new proximity to campus.
The Office of the Vice Provost for University Life will be hosting their staff BYO as part of the restaurant’s soft opening on April 20, VPUL Communications Director Mike Mantice said in an email to Daily Pennsylvanian staff members on Sunday night.
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