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