After over a year of anticipation, Olive Garden opened its Lawrence location on Monday, bringing a nationally recognized chain restaurant to the city’s growing commercial area near the University of Kansas campus.
The restaurant, situated at the corner of 21st and Iowa streets in the KU Crossing development, serves its standard Italian menu, featuring pasta dishes, salads and its signature breadsticks.
The opening marks a notable addition to Lawrence’s dining scene, which mainly features locally owned restaurants. The new establishment sits closer to campus, making it more accessible for students and visitors attending KU events.
Service Manager Grace Vallejo said the Lawrence location had been in development for more than a year and was approved after sustained interest from the community. She said that the city’s size and proximity to KU made it a strong fit for the restaurant.
“They were pushing for an Olive Garden because the closest one is 30 minutes away,” Vallejo said.
Out of the 600 interviews conducted, about 150 employees were hired, with KU students making up half of the serving staff.
For some students, the opening brings familiarity and convenience.
KU student Sam Giombetti said seeing the restaurant being built reminded him of family dinners growing up.
“I used to go to Olive Garden all the time with my parents when I was little,” Giombetti said.
Giombetti said Olive Garden offers a different experience from the quick-serve restaurants he usually visits as a student.
Another KU student, Jessica Smith, said she was surprised when she first heard Olive Garden was opening in Lawrence but became excited as construction progressed.
Smith said price is the most important factor for her when choosing where to eat, especially as a college student. She said chain restaurants are often more budget-friendly than some local sit-down options, particularly when dining with friends.
Smith said she has mixed feelings about the growth of chain restaurants in Lawrence.
“It’s kind of sad because I do like all the local restaurants. At the same time, I understand why they’re doing it,” Smith said.
As a new addition to the KU Crossing development, a commercial project near campus, purchases made at Olive Garden will be subject to an additional 1.5% sales tax for approximately 20 years to help fund the development.
Vallejo said the restaurant is expected to attract students, residents and visitors, particularly during basketball games and other KU events. Vallejo added that chain restaurants often appeal to people looking for recognizable options while traveling.
The energy among the staff remained high throughout opening day, Vallejo said. While the morning started slower than expected, crowds picked up later, with dozens of customers waiting at a time during the evening rush.
For some students, opening day was also a reason to celebrate. Giombetti said he visited the restaurant to celebrate a friend’s birthday, while Smith came for a simpler reason: those Olive Garden breadsticks.
This article was edited by Head News Editor Elliot Akerstrom. If the information in this article needs to be corrected, please contact elliot.akerstrom@ku.edu.
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