Next week, the Nest, a new restaurant and bar, is set to open across from Gables Montclair where Moya was previously located. The project, spearheaded and primarily funded by Emory alumni, will provide Emory students with a new social venue designed specifically to appeal to their interests.

We feel that the development of a restaurant and bar near campus is a positive addition the area because it will offer not only an accessible location where students can socialize but also employment opportunities and a way to bring together members of the Emory community.

The Wheel has long felt that the lack of social offerings near campus has, at least in part, led to a lack of community cohesiveness. We believe the Nest will help fill the social void that the Village has thus far been unable to fill, because students who may not find Greek events appealing or who are unable to visit off-campus bars will have a new venue near campus to gather with friends.

Kevin Wu (’10B), the project’s leader, has stated that the Nest will provide night shuttles that will transport students between main campus and the bar, a feature we hope will be executed efficiently. This will give students without their own means of transportation a much cheaper alternative to travel than what is presently offered by taxi services.

The Nest will also help to bring more employment opportunities to Emory students. Students often find part-time employment opportunities on or near campus limiting due to the fact that most on-campus jobs require a work study award. In an email sent out to Emory students on Facebook, Wu stated that the Nest is looking to hire 10 to 15 Emory students. Though this is ultimately a small fraction of the overall Emory community, even small numbers of student hirings will directly benefit Emory’s working student population.

Although we are confident that the Nest will be successful, we feel there are certain strategies that its owners can undertake to increase its appeal. Having themed days or drink specials, for instance, would be good methods of drawing in different segments of the Emory student body.

Overall though, we feel that the greatest appeal of the Nest will be that it is run, owned and primarily funded by Emory students and alumni. Emory students should not view the Nest as just another restaurant or bar near campus. Rather, they should see it as a part of the community they belong.

Therefore, the Wheel urges the Nest’s creators to continue fostering a strong sense of community among students and wishes its founders the best of luck for what we feel will be a tremendously successful and beneficial endeavor.

The above staff editorial represents the majority opinion of the Wheel’s editorial board.