Most upperclassmen at Palisade High School have the opportunity to leave campus for lunch, where students usually travel to Clifton to get fast food. Many students were excited to hear about the opening of Panda Express, an American Chinese fast food restaurant in Clifton, as the other Panda Express is nearly twenty two minutes away from the school, making it impossible to eat there and be back in time before the bell. Panda Express in Clifton opened their doors on March 16th, with a ribbon cutting ceremony, a Panda statue reveal, and a donation to the local community food bank. According to the Grand Junction Sentinel, the first 88 customers received a free shirt to celebrate the grand opening.
Lily Abeyta, a freshman here at PHS states, “I am very excited for the second opening because now I have a Panda Express closer to me, and I don’t have to go as far to get Chinese Food.” Abeyta also mentions, “I think this would benefit students of Palisade because they won’t have to spend as much money on gas to go get Chinese food, as Doordash is very expensive too, and Palisade is smaller, and has fewer chain restaurants.” Abeyta mentions that with the addition of this Panda Express, students can now have another place to work at as well, as well as enjoying the good food. When Abeyta was asked what her order was, Abeyta said, “I usually order egg drop soup and sesame chicken, with some fried rice.” With Panda Express having good Chinese fast food and closer locations, there is no doubt that Panda Express won’t succeed and be a popular hangout location for PHS students during lunch hour.
