A slice of Nebraska tradition is coming to the Nebraska Union food court.
Valentino’s, the Lincoln-based, family-owned Italian restaurant chain, has been selected to become the newest food vendor in the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s City Campus student union.
Founded by Val and Zena Weiler in 1957, Valentino’s has long been a university partner — initially as an East Campus neighborhood restaurant and today as a food option at Husker sporting events.
“Valentino’s has been a part of the University of Nebraska for generations and we’re excited to be coming to the Nebraska Union to expand that partnership,” said Tom Harrison of Valentino’s of Lincoln. “Our goal is to have the new location up and running by the start of the fall semester.”
Harrison said the location in the Nebraska Union will offer Valentino’s “Express Lunch” menu — which features pizza slices, salads and pasta dishes. It will employ approximately eight to 10 part-time workers and a full-time manager.
“The Union Board saw real value in bringing a Nebraska brand and Cornhusker game day tradition into the Nebraska Union food court,” said Charlie Francis, director of the Nebraska Unions. “We were also impressed with the menu selection that Valentino’s offers, and we thought the prices were a good, economical match for our students.”
Valentino’s will replace the space previously occupied by Subway Pizza Express and Auntie Anne’s Pretzel. The pizza/pretzel location closed in December.
The Italian restaurant chain joins a Nebraska Union food court that includes Runza, Imperial Palace and Subway.
Francis said the university and Valentino’s are working on a final design of the vendor space. Construction is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
Valentino’s is at least the tenth food vendor to set up shop in the Nebraska Union’s food court. Other vendors have included Amigo’s, Imperial Palace, Runza, Subway, Subway Pizza Express, Auntie Anne’s, Burger King, Sbarro and Planet Sub. Prior to the food court, the university operated a cafeteria in the Nebraska Union.
Valentino’s started as a fruit stand operated by the Weilers for 12 years at 35th and Holdrege streets. In 1957, the family converted the Campus Fruit Market into a pizza business.
In 1972, the Weilers sold the business to Tony and Ron Messineo. A year later, Mike Alesio joined the Messineos in ownership of Valentino’s. The families opened a second location at 70th and Van Dorn streets in 1974 and the first Valentino’s franchise opened in Topeka, Kansas, in 1975.
Valentino’s became the official pizza of the Huskers and started selling slices in UNL’s Memorial Stadium in 1994. It became the official pizza and caterer for UNL athletics events in 2002.
For more information about Valentino’s click here.
