Panda postponed
By Anna Andreyeva
Oct. 19, 2004 9:00 p.m.
During lunchtime in Ackerman Union, students pass an obviously
outdated sign in front of the Panda Express construction site which
reads, “Visit our newly remodeled store September
2004.”
The opening of the restaurant following its remodeling was
scheduled for the beginning of this quarter, but it has been
delayed due to problems complying with updated construction
codes.
“In the old buildings a lot of the areas don’t
necessarily get brought up to code,” said Jerry Mann,
director of student union and student support services, explaining
the unexpected delays.
Associated Students of UCLA officials met with Panda Express
management, the fire marshal and the contractors to inspect the
site on Friday. Mann said the exhaust hoods for the restaurant,
which take cooking by-products out of the building, needed to be up
to today’s construction codes.
“Right now the goal is to build a model of a hood system
to test this week,” Mann said. “Once they pass that,
then it’s a matter of how fast they can finish the
construction.”
Mann said that Panda Express should be open in a few weeks if
the hood test model passes the inspection.
Panda Express is using an independent contractor rather than
contracting with UCLA Facilities or Capital Programs, and the food
chain is paying for the remodeling on its own.
This is the first time that the restaurant, located on the first
floor of Ackerman Union, is going through reconstruction since it
appeared on the UCLA campus in 1993.
Just like other third-party food chains on campus, such as
LaCucina by Sbarro or Rubio’s Baja Grill, Panda Express pays
rent to ASUCLA which consists of a set minimum rate as well as a
percentage of their sales. The exact rent and whether Panda Express
pays the rent during the construction process cannot be disclosed
since a contract is involved, said Richard Delia, finance director
of ASUCLA.
UCLA’s Panda Express was the first university location for
the food chain.
Since it opened at UCLA, Panda Express has been the most popular
eatery on campus based on sales.
In the remodeled Panda Express, customers will be able to see
part of the cooking process.
“One of the new big issues is display cooking, seeing the
chef actually preparing the food,” Mann said. “The new
configuration will enable them to work the lines faster,” he
added.
While some students can be overheard complaining about the delay
in construction, others express a different opinion.
“I miss Panda Express but I don’t like their
prices,” said Kehsa Batista, a fourth-year student.
“It’s too expensive, and they give you small
portions.”
Others note that the construction does not affect them at
all.
“I have eaten there only three times, because it costs
money,” said Kevin Yen, a second-year student, adding that
living on campus allows him to eat in the dining halls for
free.
