Loyola students have mixed feelings about Carmen’s close
Posted by loyolastudentdispatch on August 6, 2011
By Jessica Reynolds
Many students at Loyola University Chicago were disappointed by the recent closing of Carmen’s Pizza, but most were stunned to learn about the terms of the restaurant’s eviction.
Carmen's Pizza has been evicted from the building located at 6568 N. Sheridan Rd. in Rogers Park.
Carmen’s Pizza was evicted from its Rogers Park location on August 3 after reportedly failing to pay more than $62,000 in rent to Loyola Property Management, a student-run business that manages the building on behalf of the the university.
The pizzeria, located across the street from Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus, was in business for nearly 30 years.
Jeanne Marie Evans, 21, a senior majoring in history and communication studies, is disappointed to see Carmen’s close because it further reduces the local dining options near campus.
“Loyola students living in Rogers Park have so few restaurants to pick from, and many of the available options are fast food chains,” Evans said.
Students are also upset because Carmen’s was highly supportive of Loyola’s student groups and allowed multiple organizations to host fundraisers at the restaurant.
“They were always nice enough to let students use it for philanthropy events,” Yasmin Darwish, 21, a senior majoring in communication studies, said, adding that students were able to serve as waiters during fundraising events, and all tips earned went toward their respective organizations.
Upon hearing the recent news about Carmen’s, students and alumni expressed feelings of nostalgia about the pizza joint via Facebook and Twitter.
Jake Giles, 23, a 2010 graduate of Loyola, said he will miss Carmen’s buffet most of all.
“The fact that I didn’t have to pick a topping and could just indulge in a variety of toppings and crusts was awesome,” Giles said. “It was the perfect, ‘I just bombed that test, I need comfort’ food.”
Giles also liked Carmen’s because it was reasonably priced and “provided jobs to students who needed it, offering a convenient location.”
Although Carmen’s had an undeniable fan base among some students, others willingly passed up the restaurant due to its lack of appeal.
Christian Capanna, 19, a sophomore majoring in biochemistry and biology, said he never dined at Carmen’s because he “always heard it was worth it just to walk the extra distance to Giordano’s.”
Sam Kronk, 21, a senior majoring in sociology and environmental studies, insisted, “I have heard students say that they are sad about the closing of Carmen’s, but I am sure that many of those students walked past Carmen’s daily without eating there,” adding that she remembers a few times when she was the only patron in the restaurant.
Kronk is sad to see the business close, but hopes it will be replaced by another local business instead of a “giant chain restaurant.”
