ASUC to Replace Bearcade With Gelateria, Lounge

ASUC officials inked a five-year deal with Gelateria Naia last Thursday, moving one step closer to transforming the ASUC Bearcade into an ice cream shop and late-night lounge.

The revitalization of the arcade-one of ASUC President Manny Buenrostro's campaign promises-will start when the Bearcade closes this Friday for renovations.

"It's going to be a real comfortable place for students to hang out, study or relax," said ASUC Auxiliary Director Tom Cordi. "There's going to be comfortable furniture, tables, booths, soft couches and an overall modern design, similar to what one would find at the Free Speech Movement Cafe."

Officials said they hope the lounge will be ready to open by the time students return for spring semester.

"Our hope is that most of the construction will take place during winter break, so as to not disturb the students," Cordi said.

The bulk of the work will involve plumbing in the downstairs bookstore, he said.

Since the games currently housed in the arcade are not part of the design plans for the renovated space, Cordi said the Bearcade's games and pool table will possibly be relocated to the university's residence halls.

Although the hours for the lounge have not been set, officials will try to keep it open as late as possible.

"The peak hours will be sometime between 6:00 and midnight or later," Cordi said.

The space will seat more than 100 students, making it easy to double as an entertainment venue for art exhibits, musical performances and other shows.

While the gelateria does not plan to target students with any special promotions at their new campus location, gelateria officials said they are excited about opening shop at the university.

"We are opening stores in other places, but the campus came to us with this idea and we took advantage of it," said Trevor Morris, the gelateria's general manager. "It will be our largest store."

Part of the lounge profits will help the ASUC cover the expenses of the Bear's Lair, which currently holds four restaurants and a pub.

The renovation of the Bearcade will happen independently of any plans the university has to revamp all of Lower Sproul Plaza, which could take years to complete, Buenrostro said.

"Ideally once Lower Sproul is renovated-at some point in the next 10 years, that's my guess-Eshleman Hall, the student union and the Bearcade space will have been renovated," Buenrostro said.

Tags: