The owners of Pandora's Pies, located on the corner of North Williamson Avenue and West College Avenue, built a business representative of Elon University and the local community. Students have the opportunity to eat pizza comprised of locally grown ingredients while sitting at a table made from the doors of Elon University's former residence halls.
The opening date has yet to be determined, but Ustach and MacKenzie hope for the beginning of next week.
Fat Frogg co-owners Peter Ustach and Jeff MacKenzie decided to open another restaurant when the space became available in Elon Town Center. John McDonald, a mutual friend and owner of the building, approached MacKenzie and Ustach about ideas for the space.
"Jeff and I pitched the idea of a pizza place to John and he immediately said he wanted us to open it," said Ustach, a 2009 Elon graduate.
Pandora's Pies relies on local ingredients and resources provided by the local community.
"It's local everything, a very green facility," said MacKenzie, a 1978 Elon graduate. "We're so local that we don't even have a freezer."
The lack of a freezer indicates the freshness of the products, according to Ustach. Produce will be bought from Ustach's former professor, and availability of ingredients will be determined by what produce is in season.
The deli meats served are prepared locally as well; the pork is raised in North Carolina and cured 10 minutes from Pandora's Pies, according to Ustach. The cheese comes from the "Goat Lady" who works 30 minutes from Elon, and has had her product featured on famous chef Emeril Lagasse's TV show. Pandora's will use a blend of 100 percent organic stone-ground flour from Lindley Mills in Alamance County. Daily, employees of Pandora's Pies make their own fresh mozzarella, too.
The design of the restaurant is also representative of the local community.
"We thought it was cool to make these tables out of the doors from old Chandler, Colclough and Maynard instead of buying a prefabricated table made in China," Ustach said. "So we had one of Jeff's good friends, a local carpenter, help us with the tables."
Pandora's Pies has also designated one wall for a different student's artwork each month. Those interested in displaying their work may bring a small portfolio to Pandora's Pies. Ustach's personal experience at Elon University provided the inspiration for the wall of artwork in Pandora's Pies.
"My whole reason for doing it, was because when I was a student at Elon, it wasn't until I took a photography class my junior year that I realized that there were artists at Elon," said Ustach. "That was only in Arts West that I saw student art. I think all the students, whether you are an art student or not, if you have artistic capabilities you should have it displayed on campus for everyone else's viewing pleasure."
The new restaurant will also have a bulletin board where students can post notices about upcoming shows or other events.
"Peter and I have the same passions for people and doing this type of business," MacKenzie said. "We want to include both the local community and the students."
The proximity to campus makes the restaurant attractive to students.
"I don't have a car so Pandora's Pies would be perfect for me to walk to," said sophomore Sarah Beth Yglesias.
Freshman Marina Panagopulos said she believes Pandora's Pies adds diversity to eating options.
"Since The Root and Town Table are basically the only two restaurants on campus, I think I would go to Pandora's with friends out to dinner," said freshman Marina Panagopulos.