Subway and Steak ‘n Shake will leave the Nebraska Union when students return to campus in the fall.
Nebraska’s only Steak ‘n Shake location will close permanently, and the space will be used as an expansion of Chick-fil-A to accommodate high sales and future catering endeavors. Chick-fil-A will close for the summer and reopen in the fall, according to Danny Steiner, associate director of University Housing and Dining strategy and development.
“Steak ‘n Shake is very important to us, and it’s been successful, but not as successful as some of our other dining things,” Steiner said. “That’s a brand that we can retain, but we’re not sure how it fits in the grand scheme of things right now.”
Chick-fil-A and Steak ‘n Shake reported a $500,000 operating loss during the 2022-23 school year after university dining took over operations of the restaurants from MSE Branded Foods, which opened up the two restaurants to replace Runza in 2019.
Steak ‘n Shake, plagued by staffing issues, operated during limited times for at least the past two school years. During the 2023-24 school year, Steak ‘n Shake delayed its opening until November and operated only during lunch hours, while other restaurants in the Union stayed open for dinner hours.
Subway will not return as the brand’s contract with UNL ended after the spring 2025 semester. Valentino’s will move to fill its space. Steiner said student surveys revealed that Subway is not important to students, but a sandwich option in the Union is.
Subway moved back into the Nebraska Union in 2012, replacing Planet Sub, which replaced a Subway under different management in 2008.
Steiner said a new “flagship” Husker Heroes location will begin construction in spring 2026 to replace Subway as a sandwich option, and will likely open during the summer or fall of 2026.
Steiner said these closures are a part of more significant changes planned for the Nebraska Union, starting this fall.
University Dining Services is planning to buy Imperial Palace and its “trade secrets,” Steiner said. The restaurant will operate on a limited menu until spring 2026.
Steiner said a new yet-to-be-determined dining option will open in the Nebraska Union next school year.
To make up for the lack of Union dining options while construction is ongoing, Steiner said two food trucks, one of them being Harper’s Smokehouse and the other to be announced, will operate outside of the Nebraska Union, alternating based on the day.
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