Iowa State University bringing Chick-fil-A back to Memorial Union

AMES — Two decades after closing its Memorial Union Chick-fil-A, Iowa State University is looking to bring it back with a 10-year lease on the ground floor near the food court — expanding on the two other chain restaurants — Panda Express and Sushi-Do — it offers.

“This is particularly attractive for students,” Sean Reeder, ISU senior vice president of operations and finance, told the Board of Regents on Wednesday. “Polling by dining and the Memorial Union found staff and students frequently ask for more national brands within our products offerings.

“And Chick-fil-A is immensely popular with the student population, as well as faculty and staff.”

Per the lease agreement, Iowa State would contribute $750,000 toward building out about 2,085 square feet on the first floor of the Union — next to the food court, ISU Book Store and visitor center.

Throughout the 10-year contract, which comes with a five-year renewal option, Chick-fil-A will be responsible for maintenance, repair and utilities. It would pay Iowa State commission on all sales in the union at a rate of 4 percent in years one through five and 10 percent in years six through 10.

That 10 percent commission would continue through a five-year extended lease as well. And Iowa State throughout the term would get an additional 2.5 percent of all food and drink bought using student dining dollars.

“We would also be giving Chick-fil-A the rights to operate affordable, temporary kiosks intermittently at different times of year across the campus,” Reeder said.

‘General foot traffic’

Three decades ago in 1996, Iowa State renovated its Memorial Union food court to add Chick-fil-A, Subway, Panda Express and McDonalds. The Union closed its Chick-fil-A in 2005 and renovated the hub in 2008 with a Caribou Coffee.

A decade later in 2018, Iowa State reported a shift away from food franchises on campus — giving its dining operation more freedom and flexibility to be creative and innovative, according to then-ISU Dining Director Mohamed Ali.

"When you work with franchises, you have to ride the bus,“ he said at the time. ”You're limited to what they want you to do, because they need to protect their brand.“

Ali also criticized the notion of sending student dollars to out-of-state-based businesses — letting other franchise leases expire — with only Sushi Do and Panda Express remaining in the ISU Memorial Union.

But Reeder on Wednesday told regents that evidence shows food franchises can bring more consumers to the Union and campus.

“Chick-fil-A nationally is known for increasing general foot traffic to student unions,” he said.

‘Nationally branded food’

The University of Northern Iowa doesn’t have franchises — although it serves Starbucks coffee and has Godfather’s Pizza and Kachin Sushi in its Mauker Union. Previous food franchises at UNI have included Erbert and Gerbert’s, Hardee’s, and Blimpie.

And the University of Iowa, also serving franchise-brand food out of its Union Station, likewise doesn’t have franchise restaurants — although in 2024 and 2025 it issued requests for qualifications for “proposals from qualified suppliers to provide a nationally branded food franchise or licensee operations to be in the Iowa Memorial Union.”

Contracts have not been awarded, according to the UI, which last week issued a new request for qualifications for “the services of a reputable, properly licensed, nationally branded, food service provider to produce food off-premise and bring their product to campus to sell food at a temporary location within the IMU.”

This would help the university supplement dining options during its massive union renovation through 2027.

“To facilitate the required construction activities, existing food service locations within the IMU must be closed, significantly limiting food service options for students, visitors, and staff,” according to the RFQ.

The nationally branded food provider would need to move fast, according to bid documents, with expectations to begin serving immediately after spring break, March 15-22.

"Business operations for this food service need must commence on Monday, March 23, 2026, and will continue through June 1, 2027.“

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com