With such a large percentage of commuter students and two main campuses within the large city of Chicago, DePaul University is always seeking ways to strengthen the connection students feel with the school’s campus.In Lincoln Park, the more relaxed and residential setting helps students feel more at home, but they can easily get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the crowded Loop campus. DePaul’s hoping to change all that with the opening of Pazzo’s restaurant this spring.
“Students come to the Loop for classes and then leave,” said Jay Jones, the director of the Office of University Real Estate at DePaul. “We asked ourselves ‘how do we make a connection? How can we make it a home for our students?’ It’s going to be more than just a restaurant.”
In fact, it’s going to be a restaurant and bar. From 1994 to 2007, the DePaul-owned property located at 25 E. Jackson Blvd., was home to Monday’s, a cozy, split-level restaurant that served breakfast, lunch and dinner upstairs and had a bar downstairs.
The owners were not able to keep up with maintenance and eventually decided not to renew the lease, leaving the space vacant. Between 2007 and 2010, DePaul was challenged with finding a new tenant in a poor economy that could live up to the university’s goals and standards.
After weeding through almost 200 brokers, Pazzo’s was the number one choice.
“We were looking for something more than just any other pizza shop,” said Jones, “something that would be successful financially and that could really become part of our community.”
Pazzo’s original location is at 311 S. Wacker Dr. The owner, Rocky Aiyash, has more than 20 years in the restaurant business, including working internationally for Arby’s. Pazzo’s is an Italian restaurant with an extensive menu that intends to stay similar at the new DePaul location.
The menu has everything from Calamari Fritte to a Truffle Chicken Club sandwich to Filet Mignon. Along with his coworkers, Jones was in charge of taste-testing the food from the top restaurants that came forward.
“We certainly did our homework,” said Jones. “It wasn’t easy to keep the weight off.”
The restaurant wasn’t chosen for tasty food alone, but also for its impressive financial history and positive relationship with its other landlords. Most importantly, Aiyash is eager to get connected with DePaul.
“He’s very pro-student,” said Jones of Aiyash. “One of his sons is a DePaul graduate, and he helped start DePaul’s intramural hockey team.”
According to Jones, Aiyash is also committed to hiring DePaul students first and foremost, and while the restaurant won’t be a part of the meal plan or Demon Express, a variety of discounts will be offered for all Blue Demons.
“It was important to find a restaurant that was student affordable,” said Jones. “We think we’ve been able to hit that price point where it can go from a student’s wage to upscale.”
“I think it’s a great idea,” said Mark Bergman, 42, who works near the Loop campus. “This area has a lot of food options, but most are quick get in, eat, and get out places. It’ll be nice to have a place to sit and have a meal.”
The partnership with Pazzo’s was made official when the 15-year lease was signed on Oct. 13, 2010. Construction began as soon as possible, and Aiyash worked quickly to bring in brand new installations for the infrastructure.
As of now, all the mechanical space is built out, and after a city inspection Aiyash will begin the final step of furnishing the interior before the estimated grand opening on April 30, 2011.