Louie's Lower Level reopens in evenings

Louie's will re-open Monday through Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Jerry Groch, cash operations manager for Memorial Student Union Dining Services, said food will be available from the grill and pasta and salad bars, along with snack items and drinks.

Since Feb. 24, the restaurant has been open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays and closed weekends in an effort to control operational costs of the Student Union's dining units, Groch said.

Recent student criticism over the afternoon closing, a lack of food variety offered at night and overcrowding at other dining units prompted Student Union officials to once again open Louie's during the evening, he said.

Groch said he also received input from several students with safety concerns associated with the early closing of the Student Union dining units.

The students felt it was more dangerous to seek food at off-campus locations during the evening hours. He said other students complained that extracurricular activities they were involved in prevented them from eating early in the day.

The new hours for Louie's should allow the Student Union to operate within its budget constraints as long as there is an adequate amount of support from the students, Groch said.

Louie's also will offer "Final Four Burgers" this week that will feature four special toppings, the most crucial being four-leaf clovers, Groch said.