When Sodexo moved Starbucks from The Loft to the first floor of the library at the beginning of last year, it left a void in the university’s main dining area. School officials are temporarily filling that void with a series of pop-up restaurants starting next month that will feature everything from chicken sandwiches to sushi.
The university will bring in Al Saha, which specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine; Moo Cluck Moo, which makes burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries and shakes; and Café Sushi.
“Al Saha was the first and I was aware of their service from other Sodexo accounts,” said Randy Fowler, general manager of dining services. “Director of Residents Life, Lanae Gill, introduced Sodexo to Moo Cluck Moo and Café Sushi was a vendor I have used on this market for over 20 years.”
The intent behind all of this was to bring in local vendors to introduce them to the students and faculty
Moo Cluck Moo is branding their space as “Moo Cluck U.”
“The idea of Moo Cluck U is to give college students a greater variety,” said Kalee Murphy, director of Moo Cluck Moo marketing. “More specifically, giving students access to food that is both good for you and great tasting.”
Moo Cluck Moo is currently in the process of trying to expand their menu when serving at UDM and anticipate continuing their relationship with both Detroit Mercy and Sodexo.
“We hope to foster this relationship even further and hopefully create a whole host of other opportunities both with UDM and other local universities as well,” Murphy said.
The pop-ups will operate in The Loft on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Al Saha will be here Nov. 10 and Dec. 1. Café Sushi will be here Nov. 1 (Chinese), Nov. 8 (Sushi), Nov. 29 (Chinese), Dec. 6 (Sushi), and Dec 13 (Chinese). Moo Cluck Moo will be here on Nov. 3, Nov. 17, and Dec. 8.
