Temaki and Tea will move to a new location on Presque Isle Avenue starting in the Fall 2011 semester.

The building where Temaki and Tea will be was once a Hardee’s restaurant and is being renovated for Temaki and Tea and the smoothie franchise Smoothie King. The restaurant will be open after March 7, 2011.

The money to refurbish the building is coming from Dining Services revenues, said Greg Minner, Dining Services director.

“The building was purchased about two years ago and the university offered a request for proposal to community members to lease it or put some kind of business in there,” Minner said. “No one took the offer so the university and Dining Services decided to do something with it.”

This renovation is part of the Road Map to 2015 as part of expanding the university, said Gavin Leach, vice president of finance.

“From time to time there are changes made to the university,” Leach said. “We have a lot of students and faculty at that end of campus, so we wanted a more central location for everyone.”

Along with moving Temaki and Tea, smoothies will also be available to purchase.

Smoothie King offers healthy smoothies and meal substitutes. A smoothie place was decided on because of the restaurant’s proximity to the PEIF and the dome.

“Many students around there want a healthy option, and Smoothie King offers healthy smoothies along with meal replacements,” Minner said.

The building is technically still on campus because the building is owned by the university, so students will be able to use their Dining Dollars to purchase items, Minner said.

“By moving Temaki and Tea out of Hedgcock, it gives us the opportunity to grow. Hedgcock is not set up to sustain a food service,” Minner said.

In the place where Temaki and Tea is currently in Hedgcock, there are three possible options, Minner said. Dining services is currently in discussion with a licensed bagel company.

“Because the Hedgcock building closes at 5 p.m., Temaki and Tea has to close then, too,” Minner said. “We want to put something in its place that will be focused on breakfast and morning foods.”

By moving Temaki and Tea to a more centralized location, it will be more accessible to the community, which is important because about 30 percent of revenue comes from members of the community, Minner said.

The work on the building started last week and will be completed by mid-January, said Jim Thams, project manager.

“There will be booths and tables along with lounge chairs,” Thams said. “We want to make a place where students can hang out.”

The cosmetic renovations will include new flooring, light fixtures and paint. There will be no structural changes to building, Thams said. There will be a fireplace in the dining area.

One main change to the building will be a patio that will be placed between the building and the road, Thams said. The patio will include benches, seating and lights. The drive-through will also be used.

“The building will have wireless internet as part of the NMU network,” Thams said. “The building will also be outputted with wire jacks for people who are not part of the NMU network.”

The larger kitchen and work space means that the menu will also be expanded, said Nathan Mileski, corporate executive chef.

“We will be able to serve more upscale sushi rolls because we will have more equipment,” Mileski said.