With its new partnership with Godfather’s Pizza Express, 23rd Street Market welcomes new menu items and increased pizza sales.

“We probably sell about three times as much pizza as we did before,” said Chris Kenaga, 23rd Street Market manager, noting that it’s still early in the process to project future sales.

The Market now features fresh Godfather’s pizza, chicken wings, chicken tenders, dessert pizza and pepperoni roles from the national franchise. The new menu items were unveiled at a soft opening on January 6, and Kenaga feels the feedback was positive, saying in a press release that customers were enthusiastic about the flavor, serving sizes and value.

“The opening went really well. Lot’s of people are really excited about the pizza here,” he said.

The Market will hold a grand opening from January 23 to 27, featuring free samples and a drawing for a grand prize of a free pizza each week for a year. T.C. will also join the celebration on Monday of that week.

The University of Northern Iowa Department of Residence first reached out to Godfather’s at a food show.

“We were looking for a better quality pizza product for 23rd Street Market,” said Carol Peterson, the director of UNI Dining Services for the DOR.

Godfather’s was initially unwilling to form the partnership, but contacted the DOR last year about opening a Godfather’s Express on campus.

Kenaga then spent a week in Omaha training to be a franchisee manager, and UNI became a franchisee of Godfather’s. A couple trainers came to UNI from Omaha for three days to help prepare for Monday’s opening, ensuring the Market met the company’s standards and procedures.

Since the opening, the Market has seen growing interest in the pizza.

“We’ve been increasing (our pizza sales) every day,” Britta Adams, the Market’s assistant manager, said.

Students can use their dining dollars for Godfather’s Express, a convenience that Kenaga predicts will add to its popularity.