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Printer-Friendly ModeCoffee makes a comeback: Starbucks opens
November 12, 2007 —
Settled snugly down the hall from the computer labs in Science East is the new Starbucks coffee shop. The atmosphere is consistent with any other Starbucks: cozy, artsy and sophisticated. But unlike other chains in the franchise, this one has SVSU students working behind the counter, showing off the skills they have learned in over 40 hours of training.
Dining Services' management thinks Java City's replacement will have a positive impact on campus. Some might wonder why they replaced a coffee shop with another coffee shop, so officials explained that Starbucks is simply more well-known around the area. Java City is as much a stand-alone franchise as Starbucks, but Java City is more of a West Coast phenomenon.
One important issue in bringing Starbucks to SVSU was the cost. Tuition dollars were not spent on Starbucks - auxiliary funds from the University's other budgets were used to bring in the coffee chain.
Dining Services Marketing Director Lindsay Carpenter says the majority of the cost was wrapped up in the specific Starbucks equipment. The total cost was upward of $250,000.
Starbucks' opening on campus has drawn mixed reactions from students. Freshmen Alan Fritch, for one, is excited.
"Starbucks is great," he said. "I love their hot chocolate."
Other students don't share his elation. Sophomore Kyle Stalter, a self-described coffee connoisseur and addict, isn't a Starbucks fan.
"I'm glad coffee is coming back, but I'm opposed to the idea of a corporate influence at SVSU," he said. "It's like dropping a McDonalds in the middle of campus."
"At least Starbucks is switching to organic coffee and fair trade," he continued. "I really don't like the taste of their coffee, though."
Junior Chelsea Gibbard agrees.
"Personally, I think Starbucks is overrated. Most people complain about the price, which, yeah, it is slightly on the expensive side - but let's face it; it's just not that good," she said. "There are a vast amount of coffee shops with much better tasting drinks. I am an avid coffee drinker and absolutely refuse to buy coffee from Starbucks."
Ready to work
The Starbucks staff is ready to get to work. One worker, requesting anonymity, went into detail about working for the coffee corporation.
"It does seem like a good place to work. They sell fair trade coffee and it's a nice setup, with jazz music and all," the worker said. "The coffee is really good quality - I did taste tests against other brands and Starbucks."
Just as some people associate Starbucks with good coffee and good music, others think of overpriced bean water when the coffee chain comes to mind. Starbucks' pricing has been the subject of much criticism.
"They make so much on a pot of coffee that if they sell one cup, they've made their profit on that pot," the worker said.
But if the company's rapid expansion is any indication, coffee-drinkers don't seem to mind.
Another Starbucks employee got a job working there because of the enjoyment in making coffee for people.
"I think the job is really fun. I've personally worked in a coffee shop for over three years and it's a fun job. Working for the Starbucks on campus was a no-brainer."
Dining Services Retail Manager Betty Papajesk believes that other campus stores could learn a lot from Starbucks.
"[They learn] how to treat customers, because licensee companies have great learning tools and customer service programs, and their menus are great, everything is very consistent," she said.
Both Carpenter and Assistant Retail Manager Anna Bennett, who serves as the Starbucks location manager, agree with Papajesk about consistency. Carpenter said that people appreciate being able to move across the country and order a drink at Starbucks and get the same exact drink they would've gotten back at home.
The Starbucks on campus will accept both Starbucks gift cards and declining balance dollars, but students cannot use declining dollars to purchase gift cards. Starbucks will only be closed when the school is closed.
Starbucks officially opens on Nov. 12, but it is holding a grand opening on Jan. 21. In the meantime, Program Board plans to hold a Coffeehouse event in Starbucks on Nov. 24, from 10 p.m. to midnight.