A new restaurant moves in

By: Melanie Fenstermaker

Preston Parker, the co-owner of Morty’s and Andy Jordan, the manager, do construction of the restaurant in preparation for it’s opening on september 15.  Nick Carpenter Photo

A new cafe aims to appeal to Utah State University students with its local food, diverse menu and impressive atmosphere.

Ty Mortenson and Preston Parker, joint owners of Morty’s Cafe, will open the restaurant on the corner of Darwin Avenue and Aggie Boulevard on Sep. 15th.

The cafe will offer a range of menu choices spanning from burgers and milkshakes to quinoa salads and iced teas. Its menu will incorporate many local foods.

“We want the food to be local oriented as much as possible,” Parker said. “Produce, meats, dairy, coffee; if we can get those locally then let’s get them in here.”

In addition to local foods from around the valley the cafe will provide produce from its own garden on the roof of the building.

“We get to grow produce right here that we’ll use in the restaurant,” Parker said. “Basil, parsley, lettuce; we’ll grow it right here so you can smell it, for one, and we’ll literally cut it, take it downstairs, and use it. It can’t get fresher than that. It’s coming right from the roof.”

Morty’s will have quick, portable food for its customers, with packaging catered to the movement between work and classes associated with a busy college schedule. It will also offer an app that allows customers to order ahead of time.

“You literally just click the buttons for whatever you want and it’s already charged to your account,” Parker said. “You’ll put in a time that you want: fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, and it’ll be ready for you to pick up. It’s literally grab and go.”

Mortenson hopes Morty’s will provide dining experiences for students that on-campus dining cannot.

“A lot of the eateries on campus have a lot of red tape. You can only do so much in a University setting.” Mortenson said that the cafe is not restricted to the same rules as on-campus dining, so it can have extended hours. “I would like to be open until midnight on weekdays and maybe two on weekends.”

Morty’s Cafe is on the corner of Darwin Avenue and Aggie Boulevard. Nick Carpenter photo.

The Morty’s Cafe dining experience will also include modern architecture, a stunning view of the valley and live music. Parker said he hopes this type of atmosphere will make the cafe the start of a “cultural hub” for campus.

“Other campuses, especially in the midwest, have a cultural center right next to campus where you go and you’ve got cool places you can eat, hang out, study and mingle with people from all around the world,” Parker said. “We’re hoping that we at least are a beginning of that cultural hub that Utah State doesn’t have right off campus [for students] to kind of escape campus and hang out.”

Mortenson said that Morty’s will try to cater to the needs of its customers. He also said the owners will listen to suggestions that seek to improve the cafe.

“We are open to feedback,” Mortenson said. “If you have an idea that would be really cool for us to implement, let us know somehow.”

Mortenson said they have worked hard to create something of value for the area and for students.

“We’ve put a lot of time and sweat and blood and tears into creating something that students are really going to enjoy that we believe will really add value to the area,” Mortenson said.

Although Morty’s Cafe is opening officially on September 15th it will have a grand opening party for students in late September or early October.

For more information about Morty’s Cafe visit mortyscafe.com.

-melmo12@gmail.com

Twitter: @mcfenstermaker