Kathee Lavine came to Eugene in 1990 with the desire to serve organic food to University students. A few years later, when the EMU underwent a remodel to add a food court, Lavine bid for the vegan/vegetarian space and won.
Holy Cow restaurant has remained in that space for 10 years, building a reputation with students, staff and faculty.
On June 30, however, Holy Cow restaurant will end its tenure in the space reserved for a vegan/vegetarian restaurant, to be replaced with Portland-based Laughing Planet Café.

While Lavine says she is still in shock over the decision, EMU Food Services Director John Costello said the committee, made up of five EMU employees and one University student, was unanimous in its decision.
“Laughing Planet could provide everything Holy Cow could do in terms of organic, vegetarian food, and more,” Costello said. Costello said the final decision was his, and he felt that Laughing Planet could appeal to more people at the University.
Lavine said she was unprepared to hear the news that the EMU would not renew its lease with Holy Cow.
“We’ve been led to believe we were doing a good job,” Lavine said. “We didn’t think they’d turn us out.”
Lavine said she invested $200,000 in creating the space. “I’m going to have this debt long after the business,” Levine said.
Costello said while it was a tough decision, “There’s no guarantee that a lease will just go on forever.”
Her Majesty of Marketing for Laughing Planet Café Mary Nichols said the café is excited to join the University.
“University students are tight for time and tight for money usually, and they really require high levels of nutrition that they often don’t get,” she said. She believes the EMU is good fit for a new Laughing Planet in Eugene.
One thing that Laughing Planet has promised to offer the EMU that Holy Cow does not is the acceptance of credit and debit cards, which Costello said will increase sales.
“It’s just kind of crazy these days not to do that,” Costello said.
Lavine said she has no current plans to open a restaurant outside the EMU.
“We want to stay,” Lavine said. “We’ll do what it takes to keep serving our unique and highly acclaimed food at the University of Oregon.”
Costello said Holy Cow presented a petition with 380 signatures and he received about 15 letters and e-mails in support of keeping Holy Cow in the EMU.
“We took note of that, but it wasn’t enough to sway us. … It’s clear Holy Cow has some support,” he said.
Costello said he expects Laughing Planet to be fully operational no later than Sept. 22, in time for fall term. To sample the cuisine before then, visit Laughing Planet at 760 Blair Blvd. in Eugene.
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