Two years ago, the Executive Director of Norris, Corbin Smyth, and other administrators invited furniture manufacturers to send sample pieces for a restaurant that would eventually become Luna’s Pub and Grill.

Rows of chairs, tables and bar stools filled the Louis Room as students, faculty and staff were encouraged to do more than just browse: They sat in the seats, ran their hands along the fabric and even shook the furniture to see what felt right. At the end, participants placed small circular stickers on a voting board to mark their favorite pieces.

Smyth remembers one brand of Adirondack chairs emerging as a clear favorite among the five versions on display. Each time someone tried it, he said, they would turn to a friend and insist, “You’ve got to sit in this chair.” Before long, the voting board for that model was crowded with stickers.

“That was probably my favorite moment because it really represented what the project was about,” Smyth said. “This project is for our campus, so our campus needs to be involved in deciding how it’s going to go.”

Years of ideation arrive at a vision

Plans for the pub began in 2020. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the push to expand outdoor spaces, administrators began to develop the Cohen Lawn project. They were looking to transform the lawn space, a giant grassy field that muddied easily in the rain, into something more intentional to serve the community.

Initially, a food vendor was only a small part of the plan. An early vision included a walk-up grill that would operate for two or three seasons a year, similar to the BBQ Stand at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a Big Ten peer. 

But as the conversations continued and former Northwestern President Michael Schill became involved, both Smyth and Jeremy Schenk, the Associate Vice President for Operations and Services, said the food component developed into a more significant part of the project. Schill hoped for it to serve the student community year-round, Schenk said.

There were multiple rounds to the initial stages of ideation. Administrators began conversations with SmithGroup, the architecture firm that would eventually design Luna’s, about how to execute their vision. From there, the design went to the board for approval, and the project moved into the design development phase.

At this point, administrators began to seek student feedback through focus groups and town halls. Smyth said they did multiple listening sessions with SmithGroup, usually in the form of a drop-in table outside of Shake Smart, where students could learn about the plans and share their thoughts. 

As part of the planning process, the Northwestern team visited and consulted with other Big Ten schools, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Purdue University and Indiana University Bloomington. Through these visits, they learned from similar programs that had been successful elsewhere. 

Smyth said he was particularly inspired by the space at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which he visited with several Norris employees. 

“It’s a very mature program and that outdoor terrace has been there for years,” Smyth said. “I wanted to showcase what this space could become down the road.”

A space for students

Administrators had a number of goals for the space, but first and foremost, they hoped for the pub and Cohen Lawn to be a place for students. Both Smyth and Schenk highlighted the importance of creating a space for the community to come together, whether it be through special programming or just to grab a meal or drink. 

“I want the users of the space to help define what the space will be,” Smyth said. 

Weinberg senior William Kosann said that he thinks Luna’s elevates the offerings in Norris.

For many upperclassmen who live off campus, the pub is a draw for them to hang out on campus. 

“A space to go grab a drink on Friday after class is appealing to students who can legally drink,” Kosann said. 

Norris Student Staff Development Manager and Communication senior Ryan Lien said Luna’s offers a new space for students to convene, whether through specific programming like Trivia Nights or watching sporting events like NFL games and the Olympics. He also thinks the space is a promising alternative study space when the library is full. 

“I come in at 9 p.m. on Mondays with my friend Connor before we have our theater board meeting to grab a drink and do homework for an hour,” Lien said. “And I’m surprised by how often I’ll run into another friend just doing homework because it’s kind of a nice, quieter, but not too quiet area.”

It was particularly important to Smyth that Luna’s, which is open until 11 p.m., be a place for students to go at night. He acknowledged that there are few hubs for nightlife in Evanston, and he hopes that Luna’s can fill that gap.

Lien said many of his peers agree that the Evanston nightlife scene is lacking. 

“I think the closing of Bob’s Pizza, Reza’s, and lack of new places to get cheap drinks and bump into people is an issue that Northwestern’s undergraduate culture faces,” Lien said.

Students appreciate the efforts despite shortcomings

While he and his friends enjoy the pub, Lien said he’s unsure of its potential to become the next popular hangout spot for students. He attributes his uncertainty to the pub’s more refined atmosphere as opposed to the dive bar vibe students sought at Bob’s and Reza’s. 

Some students also feel that Luna’s is too expensive to treat as a typical pub. 

“A burger being $18 is just ridiculous,” said Bienen first year Eunice Kim. 

Popular menu items include the Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich, which costs $17, and the Fried Pickles, priced at $9. The classic burger is $20 for a double patty and $17 for a single. 

While first-years and sophomores can use their dining dollars to purchase menu items at Luna’s, many upperclassmen do not have meal plans and have to pay out of pocket. 

Lien says that one of the key challenges regarding cost is that much of the pub’s food is in the hands of Compass Group, Northwestern’s food service provider. 

“The balance in responsibility between Norris, the pub, Compass and other admin is definitely something that we’ve had to work through,” Lien said. 

Kosann said that running a large-scale operation, especially at a university, poses organizational challenges. His experience as the Operations Director for Northwestern University Dance Marathon has made him aware of the many moving parts involved in University-wide endeavors, he added. 

Regardless, Kosann appreciates administrators’ efforts to consult students on the pub during its development. As an executive member of NUDM, he and other leaders of organizations based out of Norris had the opportunity to try Luna’s and give feedback in December before the pub’s grand opening in January. 

Lien agrees that administrators have been thoughtful in their execution of the pub. 

“I think often students look at the output of Northwestern, whether it be something with the pub, or for example, the exact terms of the agreement with the Trump administration and ask, why would they do that? Why didn’t they do something else?” Lien said. “But at the end of the day, it’s always a negotiation where you have to make concessions.”

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