If one day a week at WesWings has not been enough to fulfill your O’Rourke cravings, fear not: O’Rourke’s diner will likely reopen next year.

After his diner burned down this past August, Brian O’Rourke has been working tirelessly with the campus and the Middletown community to raise enough money to be open by fall.

“Hopefully by next semester we’ll be rocking and rolling, in the same location,” O’Rourke said. “It’s a process. Everything is one step at a time.”

Although the menu will have the old O’Rourke favorites, it will also feature some new and exciting options.

“The menu will be bigger and better,” O’Rourke said.

Raising money is never easy, but O’Rourke could not have asked for a more supportive group. According to his lawyer, Attorney Jane McMillan, just after the fire, volunteers had an impromptu fundraiser outside of the remains of the diner and sold $7,000 worth of cookies and muffins.

“That’s a pretty big bake sale,” McMillan said.

Members of the community have been supportive of O’Rourke’s effort to revive the diner.

“We’ve been getting a tremendous amount of support,” he said. “Individuals and corporations have helped out.”

President Doug Bennet, along with President of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce Larry McHugh and Middletown Mayor Sebastian N. Giuliano, has chaired O’Rourke’s fundraising committee. The committee is also composed of Middletown residents and two University officials: Director of Athletics John Biddiscombe and Director of Community Relations Frank Kuan. So far, the committee has had four hugely successful fundraisers, earning $180,000, according to McMillan. Alumni have participated in all four, including a breakfast at Summerfields.

“They’ve all worked out really well,” McMillan said.

The University has been integral in the fundraising process.

“Wesleyan sent out a letter to all the alums and we got a lot of contributions from that,” McMillan said.

Although they have not quite raised enough money to reopen, McMillan and O’Rourke are hoping to avoid another fundraiser.

“We believe once we start building there will be a renewed interest so we won’t have to borrow very much money,” McMillan said.

McMillan and O’Rourke are exploring other ways of obtaining enough money to open by Labor Day, their tentative goal.

“A lot of people who are in construction have offered to make donations of cabinet work, doors, windows,” McMillan said. “They’re willing to make contributions. Right now we’re at a pausing point until we figure out how we’re going get the additional funding.”

In case more fundraising is needed, the team is looking into banking options. Although no plans have been finalized, they are also considering having an online auction.

Students seem to be excited, as expected, that O’Rourke’s will be back in business in time for next semester.

“I’m really excited for O’Rourke’s to be opening again,” said Gabe Gonzalez-Kreisberg ’09. “Going without the amazing food has been tough these past months. Athenian just doesn’t do it like O’Rourke’s does.”

Freshmen who have never experienced O’Rourke’s are also excited to finally get to try what they’ve heard so much about.

“I’ve heard so much about it,” said Colin Campbell ’10. “I’m pumped to finally get a chance to go.”

Other freshmen have had a taste of O’Rourke’s cooking at WesWings and are excited for more.

“He’s the reason I live on weekends—otherwise I’d have to eat at MoCon,” said Aaron Izakowitz ’10.

Though he plans to return to his diner, O’Rourke would like to continue working at WesWings for weekend brunches.