ghost kitchen [gohst kich-uhn] (noun): A professional kitchen where food is prepared for takeout and delivery, without a traditional storefront.
Example: “I went to the newest pop-up in Clayton University Center’s ghost kitchen and discovered my new favorite food! The only thing spooky was how fast I inhaled my lunch.”
Housed in the Clayton University Center, Lehigh’s ghost kitchen gives local food vendors a place to pop up on campus. The idea offers more than new menu offerings: It brings local businesses into students’ everyday lives and strengthens ties between campus and the surrounding community.
“These pop-ups are really about fostering community,” says Marayna Dorsey, sustainability coordinator for Dining Services. “Local businesses use our spaces, and that connects our students to their community more. It started off small and local, but it’s really beginning to take off.”
The initiative launched in March 2026 with Kou’s Kitchen, which introduced students to African cuisine. Since then, the rotating lineup has expanded to include businesses from beyond South Bethlehem, including North Side favorite Orizaba and its Mexican and Costa Rican cuisine. The lineup continues to grow and, later this fall, Cactus Blue — owned by Elizabeth Ortiz Ph.D.’25 — will join the lineup.
And the connections aren’t limited to local businesses.
Most recently, Michael Chidester ’89 brought his Philly-style cheesesteaks to campus from Long Island, New York. Chidester grew Chiddy’s Cheesesteaks from a food truck into a business with 11 locations. For him, the pop-up was a chance to share his food with the university he calls home.
“The reception has been awesome,” says Chidester. “The students love our food, and it’s been great connecting with them when we can. The staff has been unbelievable. As a pop-up, we expected to go in, adapt, and conquer, but we were also treated like part of the team.”
The experience has exceeded Chidester’s expectations and created new opportunities for his team. It shows how Lehigh’s alumni community can contribute beyond individual connections, bringing alumni expertise and entrepreneurial experience back to campus.
That sense of connection is central to the initiative’s social sustainability goals. By welcoming local businesses and alumni into campus life, the ghost kitchen strengthens relationships across the Lehigh community and beyond.
Turns out, the best thing about this ghost kitchen is what it brings to the table. No exorcism required.
