Eddy Street Commons Opens for Business
By Tess Civantos ’11, NDAA Journalism Intern
Notre Dame has never had a real “college town”—an area of shops and restaurants to which students can walk easily. But that has changed with the recent opening of the Eddy Street Commons. Thanks to collaboration between Kite Realty, Notre Dame, and the City of South Bend, the Commons opened this fall and will unfold to completion over the next two years.
The Eddy Street Commons, located just south of campus, combines retail space, restaurants, and apartment complexes to make an inviting area for students and families. It features more than 87,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, most of which should be open by the end of the calendar year. Many of its venues have already opened, including restaurants Hot Box Pizza, Chipotle, and Five Guys Burgers; an Anytime Fitness center; and a Follett Bookstore.
Other scheduled openings include:
- Nicholas J. Salon and Spa, a locally owned Aveda salon and spa, is projected to open in December
- Kildare's Irish Pub, an Irish-themed restaurant and pub, is projected to open in January 2010
- Old National Bank, which is under construction, is scheduled to open in January 2010
- Doc Magrogan's Oyster House, a full service sit down seafood restaurant, is scheduled to open in March 2010
- A 119-room Fairfield Inn and Suites (a Marriott Hotel), is under construction and scheduled to be open in the fall of 2010
- A proposed full-service hotel with an additional 255 rooms will open at a date to be determined.
Other possible prospects for the Eddy Street Commons include a drug and convenience store and a New York-style deli.
The Eddy Street Commons already is popular with students, many of whom lined up to receive free Chipotle at its grand opening in October. One drawback, however, is that the Commons businesses do not accept Flex Points.
“We explored that option and decided not to pursue it,” says James Lyphout, Notre Dame vice president for Business Operations. “Students will not be able to use Flex Points or Domer Dollars.” As for special student rates, Lyphout says it is up to the individual retailers if they want to offer students a special discount.
Despite its proximity to campus, the Eddy Street Commons will not cause problems for tailgaters on football weekends. In fact, it should help to ease parking congestion, thanks to its vast parking space.
“The Eddy Street Commons includes a parking garage that holds 1,300 cars,” Lyphout says. “It will be available for game-day parking, but not for tailgating.”Date: 11/5/2009
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