The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is launching a search to bring a new food vendor to the Nebraska Union.

The search will replace the Subway Pizza Express and Auntie Anne’s Pretzel location, which will close in December. Barton Development of Lincoln announced the closure Oct. 12.

UNL’s Subway Pizza Express was the second location in the United States and the first located on a university campus, said Charlie Francis, director of the Nebraska Unions. Auntie Anne’s was added to the location and the dual-restaurant opened in spring 2014.

“The location was a test and we were hopeful that it would take off and be a positive brand here at UNL,” Francis said. “However, the location was not as successful as it needed to be, so Barton Development made the difficult decision about closing.”

Barton Development will continue to operate the Subway sandwich shop in the Nebraska Union.

“Barton has been a good partner with the Nebraska Unions and we look forward to working with them in the future,” Francis said.

The university will issue a request for proposals seeking a new food vendor in the coming weeks.

Francis said the Nebraska Unions’ student advisory board would assist with evaluating the proposals. The proposals must offer food items that do not conflict with protected menu categories of existing Nebraska Union vendors — Runza (hamburgers), Imperial Palace (Asian) and Subway (deli sandwiches).

“We are open to any vendor outside those protected categories and desired by our students,” Francis said. “We anticipate that the new vendor will begin construction in late spring or summer with a fall 2016 opening.”