DeKalb | When NIU students return to campus for the fall semester in August, they will have a variety of new dining options to choose from.

Sycamore road will have a new look to it as the long-closed Ruby Tuesday, 2370 Sycamore Road, will soon be replaced, and White Castle at 1602 Sycamore Road closed it’s doors.

However, one of the spots will not be empty for long as a Chili’s will be opening to replace Ruby Tuesday’s at the location . There is no confirmed replacement for White Castle at this time.

The DeKalb area will also be welcoming a Hardees at the former site of Chuck’s Auto Center, 1625 DeKalb Avenue.

Hardees is a chain restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner foods such as breakfast sandwiches, burgers, chicken, desserts and much more, including heathly options like low-carb chicken options and salads.

NIU students and local residents will have to wait no longer for their barbecue cravings to be satisfied. Slow Smoke BBQ is a family owned and operated business that uses their own brand of sauces and spices for their food. Barbaque lovers can try out the new spot at 265 West Peace Road Suite 102.

“We’re from Sycamore and we started the business back in 2010, and we were doing catering until 2013,” said restaurant owner Dan Dietz. “We started going out to different events, and we decided to open a [spot in DeKalb]. We’ve had college students come to us as well as some administrators come to us before.”

Betty Jean’s Soul Food Dineris located at 630 Plaza Drive Suite 5. Betty Jeans serves unique soul food dishes such as catfish and pork chops bites.

Adam Carr, senior NIU student and journalism major, says barbeque food is a favorite of his and appreciates there will be more of a variety of eating options in the NIU area.

“I think having those new options is nice,” Carr said. “Eating out can’t happen that often but when it does, I like it to be personal favorites.”

Residents will have another opportunity to get their favorite gourmet sandwiches with another Subway opening next to the DeKalb Post Office, at 600 Lincoln Hwy. NIU students now have three Subways within two miles: this new location, at the ground floor of the Holmes Student Center at 340 Carroll Avenue and next door to Molly’s eatery and drinkery at 928 W Lincoln Highway.

Students are encouraged to try new places and share their experiences with the Northern Staron facebook or twitter using the hashtag ‘#NewDeKalbEats.’