The Anthony Wayne Drive Apartments are between Kirby Street and Warren Avenue. The apartments have two phases and can currently house 400 people in phase one. According to Wayne State University’s housing website, phase two “will open in June 2019” and the apartments will be able to house an additional 400 students.  By the fall of 2019 apartments will be the new home of the Campus Health Center, 1,000 Degrees Pizzeria, Tubby’s, and Leo’s Coney Island. Students have mixed reactions regarding the new food options.

Some students are concerned about the diversity of the restaurants that are and will be added to the campus. Haley Most, an anthropology major, says “I think having more diversity would be better… there are already two sub shops on campus…there is actually three including Blimpie’s on Cass. I think having a Mexican restaurant or something like that would be better.”  Most also say that “[she doesn’t] eat at any of those restaurants and [doesn’t] know many people who [does].”

Other students like Michael Croft, a mechanical engineering major, says that “The restaurants are not really healthy foods”, so “[he] won’t eat them. [He] would like a chipotle or a salad creation place.” Students seem to want more healthy, authentic and culturally diverse food options. Even though the student center already has a Panda Express and a Taco Bell, Biological Sciences major Aiden Kilcline says that panda express is “too expensive and not genuine Chinese.” Nate Bravender, a finance major, says that he wants “to see more Asian food other than panda express” and “more vegetarian options.”  Julia Yuldashev, economics major agrees. She says that she’d “really like a sushi place or more Asian food!” Haley Most agrees that the student center options are not enough, she thinks that “having a Mexican restaurant or something like that would be better.”

Despite the criticisms, students are looking forward to the additions on campus. Most say that “it will be nice to have an area on campus to sit down and get a meal without a rush, like fast food options. [she loves] the idea of having restaurants on campus because it helps further the community of students at Wayne State. It offers a space to get to know new friends better—what better place to do that than over a meal.” Yuldasheva says that she’s “excited to have a pizza place and likes the general idea” of the restaurants. She says “it makes it more comfortable for students to stay on campus and not have to eat out all of the time.” She doesn’t “think we have enough compared to like the University of Michigan or other colleges nearby.” Bravender says that “the Leo’s Coney Island would be really nice cause the nearest coney right now is a mile away.” He is “looking forward to these restaurants because [he and his friends] would for sure go to Leo’s Coney Island, especially if it’s open late.”

Further information regarding new restaurants on campus can be found at the housing department at 313-577-2116, and the marketing communications department at 313-577-8155.