By Calvin Hobson

Students tired of walking to South Limestone Street for a sweet onion chicken teriyaki sub or the traditional club won’t have to wait much longer until Subway Restaurant sandwiches are available at the Student Center.

A new Subway store is slated to open in the Student Center in late March, said Roger Sidney, assistant director of UK Dining Services.

Dining Services invested in the $210,000 project to meet “students’ desire for more national brands,” Sidney said.

Before deciding on Subway, a Dining Services advisory board reviewed potential brands that students wanted and hired a food-service consultant to ask students what brands they would like to see on campus.

Chick-fil-A and Starbucks are currently the only national brand restaurants in the Student Center.

“I’m glad UK Dining is bringing this here, because they’ve tried to do new things and have just been unsuccessful,” said agricultural economics sophomore James Harris.

Prices at the Student Center Subway will be the same as those at off-campus locations. Some students said they wish there were a cheaper fast-food option on campus.

“I really don’t mind Subway, but I honestly would prefer something along the lines of Wendy’s because of its 99-cent menu,” said agricultural communications sophomore Geoffrey Griggs. “I can only afford to go if they accept Flex Dollars.”

Many students said they are excited to see UK expanding its dining options.

“I really haven’t been a fan of UK Dining, especially with how flex and meal plans are structured,” said Brian Brown, a secondary English education senior. “It’s good to see they’re finally expanding their options.”

The new Subway will be located in the middle of the food court across from Room 214, Sidney said, and will not take the place of any other restaurant at the Student Center.

While it’s too soon to tell if the restaurant will affect other sandwich locations near campus, including the Subway on South Limestone Street, Sidney said there has been a successful deli in the food court before, with several successful deli concepts off campus near the Student Center.

Other than the Subway, Dining Services is not currently working on any other additions or projects, Sidney said.

“We are always looking to improve our food options on campus and are open to opportunities,” he said, “but we don’t have any concrete plans at this time.”