Starbucks falls short on construction

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons

 

Maria Britos/ Contributing Writer

Coffee-addicts are out of luck, as an upcoming franchise coffee shop is behind on construction.

Students will have to hold off on purchasing Starbucks coffee on campus until construction in the Glenn Hubert Library is completed mid-semester. An opening date has not been set.

“I made plans to get my Starbucks vanilla frappe before heading to the library to do some research and couldn’t find it,” said Derek Arburto, a digital media senior.

Bay Café, the former campus coffee shop which served Starbucks drinks, was removed along with Bistro Subs during summer and replaced by a Subway restaurant.

Construction  in the library also began in the summer, removing the computer lab on the first floor as well as a wall of vending machines. The Starbucks kiosk was scheduled to be complete by fall.

The fall term started, but students must go off-campus for name-brand coffee.

Marketing Manager for Aramark Patricia Williams said when the opportunity to redesign the Bay Café came, Aramark jumped at the opportunity.

“Bay Café proudly served Starbucks, but it wasn’t a true Starbucks,” Williams said.

Although behind on construction, the restaurant will have extended business hours and will offer more than just coffee.

Starbucks will likely remain open past 7 p.m. on weekdays, according to Williams. However, operation hours have not been set.

The restaurant will have a full menu of pastries, sandwiches and beverages, similar to the Starbucks in the Green Library at the Madesto Maidique Campus.

Each year, Panther Dining and Aramark conduct University-wide surveys on campus dining, and their findings showed a strong concern for the location of the coffee shop.

Ultimately, they decided the library would be better than the cafeteria because this will allow students to enjoy a pick-me-up during late study sessions.

-bbc@fiusm.com