The first ZeBi café will host its grand-opening celebration from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, 2012, on the Collat School of Business side of the Business and Engineering Complex, 1150 10th Ave. South.
Returning students will think “Pimp my Lobby” invaded the BEC this summer. In addition to new floors, carpeting and furniture, walls were knocked down and the BEC 106 classroom was replaced by extra space and seating for ZeBi, short for Zest Bistro.
Sodexo, who manages the brand, calls ZeBi a deli-fresh concept much like Panera or Newk’s. However, the difference between ZeBi and the chains is the independence to change the menu to meet the customers’ needs.
“We have many brands across the country and we have access to all of those recipes, yet we are not held to the strict menu rigors of most national brands,” says Leigh Priecko, marketing manager for campus restaurants. “So if our culinary team hears that students want a new item they can come up with a new recipe or add a different item to ZeBi’s menu anytime they choose.”
ZeBi is serving food now; its hours are 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday. It accepts meal plans, Dining Dollars, BlazerBucks and major credit cards. Visit www.uab.edu/dining to learn more. And 1 percent of sales in each fiscal year will be donated to a Birmingham-based charity that works to feed those in need.