For more than 30 years, Bell’s
Pizza stood at 700 Packard St.
serving slices to students and
residents alike. Now, a Domino’s
Pizza will take its place — the
first iteration of the franchise
the University of Michigan’s
Central Campus.
The new restaurant will
feature bicycle delivery and an
entirely new open floor plan
with a “pizza theater” where
customers can watch their food
being made.
David Cesarini, the franchise
owner of the new location, also
owns three other Ann Arbor
locations. He said he hopes to
improve the process of getting
food to students, and since the
new store is within walking
distance of campus.
Cesarini said he searched
for a few years to find a
location for the franchise on
Central Campus. Other pizza
establishments
near
that
intersection
include
Pizza
Bob’s, Cottage Inn and Happy’s
Pizza.
“Finding real estate in Ann
Arbor, especially in the city
itself, is really difficult,” he said.
“This location of course is ideal
because it gives me a chance
to better service the high
concentration of customers that
I currently serve in my other
two spots.”
LSA
sophomore
Drew
Macleod said he is glad there
are more restaurants opening
on Central Campus.
“I like that Central Campus is
adding new options,” Macleod
said. “It will definitely make
me weigh other options before
getting
the
classic
Quickie
Burger or Pizza House.”
Cesarini said once Bell’s
Pizza decided not to renew its
lease, he was able to work out
a deal with the landlord before
the property was even listed. He
said he hopes to have the store
up and running by October,
which he added is one of the
reasons he thinks he was able
acquire the property.
“What I think sold him (the
landloard) is the amount of
resources and investment we’re
going to make in this property,”
Cesarini said. “It’s not going to
look like anything you see right
now.”
The
foundation
of
the
building will remain the same,
but the roof will be new and
glass will be added on the sides
of the walls. Cesarini hopes
the new design and upgraded
technology
will
make
the
process of getting pizza easier.
He also plans to streamline
the
delivery
process
by
delivering food on bikes, which
Cesarini said he believes will
mean employing more students,
many of whom are only able to
deliver by bike.
“We want to be cutting edge,”
Cesarini said. “We want to find
ways to work better with the
community. We want to invite
our customers to be a part of the
process.”
He
also
noted
that
the
restaurant
could
serve
the
University’s
philanthropy
efforts. Domino’s sponsors clubs
such as Dance Marathon and
some Greek life organizations.
“I’m very heavily involved
with
the
University
and
students,” he said. “I think
I’ve donated tens of thousands
of pizzas over the years. I
now basically have a campus
headquarters downtown.”
With the addition of the
“pizza
theater,”
Cesarini
said the staff wants to make
customers feel welcome and
a part of the pizza-making
process. He expects that this
interactive environment, late
hours and a mobile application
should make Domino’s a simple,
fun place for students to eat.
Macleod
said
normally
ordering a pizza on Central
Campus can take an hour, and
added that he would be open to
new ways of ordering if it makes
the process faster.
“An app would make ordering
a lot more convenient than
online or calling,” Macleod said.
Cesarini said he hopes to
embrace both technology and
student needs as the business
approaches its opening.
“Domino’s is on the front edge
of technology and interacting
with our customers,” Cesarini
said.
“The
University
of
Michigan embraces technology,
so we’re doing the same, and
I think it’s a great match of
combining what we’re going to
offer and what I feel the campus
and the students already want
and like.”
May Peace Prevail on Earth
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
AMANDA ALLEN/Daily
Bell’s Pizza on the corner of Packard and State has been replaced by Domino’s.
New pizzeria to feature bicycle delivery service and “pizza theater”
KEVIN BIGLIN
Daily Staff Reporter
On a cloudy Thursday, students,
parents and staff gathered for
block M cookies, ice cream and
other refreshments at University of
Michigan President Mark Schlissel’s
annual open house, hosted at his
home on South University.
Before the doors opened, a small
crowd of students could be seen
waiting outside the house, including
LSA freshman Mackenzie Cosand,
who came with her hallmates from
East Quad.
“People said it was a good idea to
come,” she said.
Other groups of freshmen at
the event echoed Cosand, saying
they didn’t know much about the
president, but were just hoping to
meet new people and catch a glimpse
of Schlissel.
Schlissel opened his house for
the first time at the start of the 2014
academic year, his first year as U of
M president. The tradition of hosting
an annual welcome event began in
the 1930s, when wife of the seventh
president of the University hosted
tea parties for women of the college.
The event morphed into one open
Domino’s Pizza to open in former Bell’s location
KATHERINE CURRAN
Daily Staff Reporter
The welcome event
began in the 1930s and
continues today
UM President
invites students,
parents to annual
fall open house
See SCHLISSEL, Page 8A
6A — Tuesday, September 6, 2016
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com