A Nebraska-born tradition is returning home to the Cornhusker State’s flagship university, as a Runza restaurant will open this fall in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Selleck Hall food court.
The franchise, operated by the university’s Housing and Dining Services team, will serve signature Runza sandwiches along with classic offerings like burgers, chicken strips and the brand’s iconic French fries. Unlike a traditional Runza restaurant, the Selleck Food Court location will be linked to campus systems, including mobile ordering through the university’s dining app and meal plan access for students. A walk-up kiosk will allow the broader public to order without the app.
“Like the Huskers, Runza is synonymous with Nebraska,” said Lucas Novotny, executive director for Housing and Dining Services. “It’s a brand our students have consistently named as a top choice for campus dining. We are excited to finally make it happen.”
Dining Services staff started training with Runza on July 7, preparing for a limited menu rollout during student move-in week. The restaurant will officially open Aug. 18, which is the first day of fall meal plans.
The menu will initially feature core Runza food offerings, with an expanded slate over time as staff complete onboarding and culinary training. The location will also serve as a potential test space for new Runza concepts.
Housing and Dining Services selected the Selleck Hall food court over other campus locations as it allowed for a fall semester opening, better integration with campus meal plans and more opportunities for innovation.
“We’re excited to work alongside the Housing and Dining Services team at UNL,” said Donald Everett Jr., president of Runza. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring our menu closer to students, staff, faculty and campus guests.”
Bringing Runza back to campus is a key element of an ongoing effort by University Housing and Dining Services to partner with local and Nebraska-based food providers. Other collaborations include a private coffee blend from The Mill; a collaboration with Omaha Steaks; and continued sourcing from longtime local purveyors, including Rotella’s Bakery and Hiland Dairy.
“These partnerships reflect our university’s commitment to serving all of Nebraska — from our students to the state economy and individual communities,” Novotny said.
The Runza return also supports a wider strategy by Housing and Dining Services to expand on campus dining options. The initiative includes a reimagining of the Nebraska Union food court, which is undergoing renovations to update existing vendors — including Valentino’s, Imperial Palace and Chick-fil-A. It will also introduce a new Husker Heroes sandwich shop and up to two additional concepts that will be announced later. The Nebraska Union recently added a checkout-free Herbie’s Market, powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.
Details regarding a grand opening celebration for the Runza location will be announced.
