Marshall Street sees many changes

Marshall Street is seen by most Syracuse University students as an extension of the campus. And for many, the term ‘Marshall Street’ covers more ground than the actual “Marshall Street” that runs from Alliance Bank to Starbucks.

From shopping at Rhododendron, J. Michaels Shoes or Some Girls Boutique—to sneaking into Maggie’s Restaurant and Sports Bar with her friends, SU student Megan Mastroianni, 21, quickly became familiar with what was on and around Marshall Street during freshman year. Instead of constantly eating the same food from the dining hall, Mastroianni would walk to Marshall Street where the wide range of restaurants—such as Bruegger’s Bagels, Augie’s Pizza, Pita Pit, Aladdin’s Natural Eatery, Bleu Monkey Café’ and more—offered different types of food for any meal or appetite.

Since these various restaurants, bars and stores are conveniently located five minutes away from the center of campus, or “the Quad,” Marshall Street has become a popular place for SU students to go.

Mastroianni is now finishing her college career. As a second-semester senior, she said she can't believe how different Marshall Street is now since she came to school four years ago.

“I think what they have already changed and what they are in the process of changing right now is only making it better and more popular,” Mastroianni said.

Since the spring semester began, major changes have been made as some businesses on Marshall Street have closed, opened and relocated.

For the past two years, many students at SU have been anticipating the day the Marshall Street hotspot, where Maggie’s Restaurant and Sports Bar was formally located, would re-open. Finally, on January 13, the now legal juniors and seniors are celebrating the opening of its replacement called “DJ’s on the Hill.”

Since DJ’s opening weekend, junior accounting major, Nicole Negrepont, and her friends have gone to the bar almost every week.

“I’m so excited something finally opened there after so long,” Negrepont said. “The drinks are good and reasonably priced. It’s new so things could always be better—like more bartenders, and ironically a ‘DJ’—but every time I’ve gone I’ve had a lot of fun.”

DJ’s menu offers food ranging from salads and appetizers to pasta dinners and New York Style pizza. The bar is regularly open from noon to 2 a.m. and offers a variety of drink specials. Equipped with flat-screen TV’s, DJ’s has become a popular place for people to watch sports or just hang out and socialize.

One of the other many new developments on Marshall Street is Chipotle Mexican Grill. This popular Tex-Mex Restaurant is still a work in progress and is replacing King David’s Restaurant. Due to its popularity, SU students’ excitement has been building.

“I can’t wait,” Grant Hopiavuori, 21, said. “I go to Chipotle {off campus on Erie Blvd.} at least once a week so it’ll be great being able to just walk there.”

And for those Mediterranean and Greek cuisine fans, King David’s won’t be going too far. Owners Angela and Milad Hatem re-opened their 36-year-old restaurant on the second floor just above their old venue.

In addition to those mentioned above, there have also been many other recent developments along the actual grounds of Marshall Street and the grounds around it:

• “Sliders Burgers and Belgian Fries” opened on July 23, 2010, where Augie’s Pizza was formally located.  Augie's closed last fall.

• “Jreck Subs”—a franchise that started in 1967—opened up on 113 Marshall St. next to Pita Pit. Known for their custom-made bread, and fresh-sliced meat, this new sub shop on Marshall Street is currently the franchise’s newest location.

• “Bleu Monkey Café” moved just down the street from its previous location at 147 Marshall St. in the beginning of this spring semester. The popular sushi restaurant is now functioning in its new location—formally occupied by the Aladdin’s Natural Eatery—at 163 Marshall St.

• “Ellie Mia Boutique” opened up on August 20, 2010, in the former location of Rhododendron on South Crouse Avenue. Owned by Sophia Dimanidis, this new retail store carries a wide range of high-end and affordable clothes, accessories and footwear.

• “Boba Suite Tea House” was opened by SU graduate student Jerry Liu and his two partners on August 15, 2010, on South Crouse Avenue. This new establishment sells drinks, known as "bubble tea" that can be served in a variety of ways and originated in Taiwan.

• “Thaliea,” is a new accessory boutique that opened on January 12 by the same co-owners of the South Crouse Avenue restaurant “appeThaizing,” Panya Chittaratlert and his wife Karanya Aksornkoae. This new retail store sells a variety of accessories—many of which are handmade—such as jewelry, purses and bags.

• “Life is a Piece of Cake” is a new bakery that opened up in January on South Crouse Avenue by SU graduate Ken Park with the help of Young Choi and Jae Lee. This new shop sells a variety of drinks—such as those found in regular coffee shops and more—as well as cupcakes and other numerous deserts.

While Marshall Street has seen many changes in the past couple of years, some students said these changes are for the better.

“It seems like a whole new street now compared to four years ago. Everything just seems so much different, but for the better,” Mastroianni said. “If only this happened before I was so close to graduating.”