Nation's First-Ever College 'Chili's Too' Coming To BU
Baylor University will launch the nation's first-ever "Chili's Too" restaurant on a college campus, when the well-known fast-casual restaurant opens in August on the first floor of the soon-to-be-completed Dutton Avenue Office and Parking Facility.
The plans were announced today during a news conference by officials with Baylor, Brinker International, Baylor Dining Services and the university's food service partner ARAMARK Campus Services.
"We're thrilled at the opportunity to bring this ground-breaking partnership to campus for the enjoyment of our students, faculty, staff and Central Texas neighbors," said Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. "We believe that Chili's Too will provide a wonderful gathering place to enrich the community life at Baylor."
The 155-seat campus retail establishment will be known as "Chili's Too @ BU," which also will be the distinctive logo found on the building's entrance. "Chili's Too" is considered a "fast-casual" restaurant, where customers order at a counter and food is delivered to their tables. There also will be a separate counter for to-go orders. The restaurant's menu features most of the well-known Chili's favorites, including sandwiches, burgers, salads, the famous "Guiltless Grill" items and other American cuisine with a southwestern flair. The restaurant will serve soft drinks and tea but no alcoholic beverages. "Chili's Too @ BU" also will accept BearBucks, the popular program that allows Baylor students to use their ID cards to make purchases.
"We're excited to be at the forefront of this pioneering food service concept," said Rick L. Creel, assistant vice president for operations and facilities at Baylor. "We believe that bringing this kind of restaurant to campus will help us fulfill one of the imperatives of Baylor 2012, our 10-year vision, which is to create a truly residential campus. It's more than just building rooms for students. We want to create community, and we believe the 'Chili's Too @ BU' will help us do that in a new and engaging way."
Construction on the new restaurant will begin in early summer. Fully decorated with Baylor memorabilia, "Chili's Too @ BU" is expected to open when the fall semester begins in August. The new Dutton Avenue Office and Parking Facility also will include parking for 1,200 cars and 30,000-square-feet of office space for Baylor academic, information technology and other administrative departments. It also will open in August.
Chili's, the largest and oldest of Brinker's eight restaurant brands, is a Texas success story. The restaurant began in 1975 with one location in Dallas and has since expanded to almost 900 Chili's in 49 states and 22 countries. The "Chili's Too" brand can be found in airports and inside-the-mall locations throughout the United States.
ARAMARK has provided dining services at Baylor for more than four decades. The company offers higher education institutions a single-source provider for dining services, management of retail dining establishments and convenience stores, design and operation of dining facilities, facilities management and other campus services.
"We are proud of our 44-year partnership with ARAMARK, and we appreciate their continued commitment to excellence in Baylor Dining Services," Creel said.
For more information, contact Creel at (254) 710-3461.