If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave Marshall Street alone

Why would you take away a street filled with greasy Calios, Varsity and Chipotle when food is pretty much the only thing that helps us college students survive another day?

Whether you’re looking to turn up at Chucks or Harrys or to pig out at Varsity or Chipotle, you know you can always count on Marshall St. Or so you thought.

Rumors have been spreading about the possible renovations looking to effect Marshall Street and let me tell you, no one is happy about it. These “plans” include tearing down the building that houses Chucks and Funk n’ Waffles (goodbye chocolate chip waffle with chocolate syrup and whipped cream, you will be missed), as well as turning the space where Varsity now sits into a high-rise, as if we actually need one of those.

As of Monday, February 6th, The Syracuse Planning Commission made it past the first step in the long process of re-vamping several buildings on Marshall Street and South Crouse Ave. Based on the vote held that evening, 727 South Crouse Ave, the building that houses Chuck’s and the beloved Funk n’ Waffles was set to be torn down and created into a space used for several different functions, including holding retail on the lower floors and supposedly, lower priced luxury apartments for students compared to the many other buildings in the area on the upper flowers. As these plans are being set into motion, and projected to be available to students by the 2018-2019 school year, plans to get rid of several other well-loved buildings of M. Street are in the works as well. There is talk to remove Varsity Pizza and Faegan’s Cafe & Pub to create a high rise building. There is very little information known about this project at this given time.

As you probably know, this news may come as a shock to many Syracuse students. M street is our home, it is where we can get t-shirts and hats from Manny’s and Shirt World without having to pay at least $75 dollars like we would at the bookstore (let’s admit it, the price of that stuff is ridiculous). Marshall Street is also where you can go to party at DJ’s or Chucks where the music is always loud and the rum buckets and lethal alcoholic concoctions just keep coming. Not to mention, there are countless places to grab greasy food after a wild night out, a late night study session at Bird Library or anytime in between.

Some of the local food favorites include Chipotle, Varsity Pizza, Funk n’ Waffles, Starbucks, Insomnia Cookies (a personal favorite), Calios, Acropolis and countless others. Although the plans only mention the demolition of a few of these restaurants, Syracuse Students cannot help but wonder how much of our Marshall Street is actually in jeopardy. How can we possibly go on without a buffalo chicken calzone with ranch from Calios or the early morning Venti Lowfat Java Chip Frappuccino with whip and chocolate drizzle pick-me-up from Starbucks on the way to class at the Hall of Languages?

QUICK! Eat at Funk n’ Waffles and Calios before it may be too late

As if losing our favorite greasy foods isn’t enough to send us into a blue-depressive state, the demolition of Chucks is very, very real and coming fast. Although the owners of Chucks are in the process of relocating their beloved bar, it hard to think about what life we be without it. Or Harry’s and DJ’s for that matter? What is stopping them from tearing down all our beloved rally spots and getting rid of the nightlight Syracuse’s Marshall Street has to offer?

Night out at Harry’s, who knows if it will be the last…

I say enough is enough. Stay away from our Calios, Varsity Pizza. Don’t even think about tearing down the Starbucks or Funk n’ Waffles. Oh, and DJ’s, Harry’s, Chucks, don’t touch those either.

With all that said I leave you, The Syracuse Planning Commission, with this: if you know what’s best for you, you’ll leave Marshall Street alone.

More
Syracuse University