More dining, UPS slated for University Hall

University Hall is the newest building set to open on the Fairfax campus. The bottom level of the building includes leasable retail space. (Jake McLernon)

All four retail spaces in University Hall, the soon-to-open administrative and classroom building, have been tentatively filled, according to Mark Kraner, executive director of campus retails operations.

Three potential tenants – UPS, Panda Express and the D.C.-based restaurant Everlasting Life Café – each signed a letter of intent this spring, according to Kraner. An Einstein Bros. Bagel Company location was confirmed for the fourth retail space late last summer.

Campus food-service provider Sodexo will operate the Einstein Bros. location. Panda Express and Everlasting Life Café would operate their own franchises.

Construction will take place over the summer for all University Hall retail locations with a goal to open early fall, about a month after students return for classes, Kraner said. Some offices and administrators are expected to begin moving into the building next week.

“When you look at what our campus has to offer, we think [the building’s expected locations] complement it well,” said Kraner.

One of the locations, Everlasting Life Café, a sit-down restaurant directed toward an organic vegetarian or vegan diet, will fill a “definitive need” with the further growth of different options on campus, he said.

Another health-focused dining option is on the way for the fall. Construction on frozen yogurt shop Red Mango on the ground-level of the Tidewater dorm begins May 23 and is expected to begin operations mid-August. 

University Hall’s retail locations are located on the building’s ground-level floor and face south towards the center of campus. A small, metered parking lot is located near the building.

The lobby will also contain vending machines, which will accept cash, credit and Mason Money.