This week we sat down with Morgan Harris and Daniel Shea who own Meatball U located at 30 South High Street.

Tell me about your store and any particular things you believe make it unique.

We always wanted to open a business. We were on a trip to California when we seriously thought about opening some type of restaurant. Initially, we thought about doing something along the lines of In and Out Burger or pizza, but the industry is overpopulated with things like that. There are more than 20 pizza places in West Chester alone. After some research, we thought about doing sandwiches, and then we kept elaborating on that idea. Finally, we came to the conclusion of meatballs as our main item, but seven different kinds. Our recipes are Dan’s family recipes that have been passed down, and I think that is also very unique.

How long have you been in business?

For 2 years, however, we were only open for a few months before having to shut down completely for 3 months due to COVID. There have been a few phases to our opening because of the restrictions. First, most of our customers were local workers who passed by on their way to work. Then, we partner with schools for dine and donates as well as expanding to families. We are just now entering a new circle with students being back on campus, and we are excited to see who the next circle will be. “It’s like the world’s longest grand opening.”

What are your company’s goals?

First, we are trying to prove that our restaurant is a winner on paper. From there, we ultimately want to franchise, and have a Meatball U in every college town.

Do you have any promotions/ events you would like me to share?

Coming up, around Thanksgiving, we will have our annual meatball eating competition for our third birthday. We also have sponsored some of the West Chester sports teams in bingo, and are hoping to better our connections with the school’s organizations to support the students.

Is there anything else you would like to share about your store?

I would like to extend a sincere thank you to the families that kept the shop going while the students weren’t here.