 "Photo: Chris Ripley")
The new Medaille College coffee lounge, located on the fourth floor of the Main Building, is open for business.
While students were allowed to get a taste of the lounge and what it had to offer at the end of the fall semester, its affirmation as a part of this campus was made official on Tuesday, January 19.
Medaille College President, Dr. Richard Jurasek, as well as the CEO of SPOT Coffee, Richard Gress, were present at the ribbon cutting. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Charles Moran, did the honors by cutting the ribbon.
Medaille’s partnership with SPOT Coffee continues to develop through the college’s branch of SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise).
According to Nick Calandra, SIFE member involved with the collaboration, things are working out well.
“They are extremely responsive to any needs questions and ideas we have,” he said. “They seem to enjoy working with us.”
One of SIFE’s top priorities going forward is to “dramatically increase sales by next semester,” said Calandra.
“I think we are at a spot that we anticipated being at,” he said in reference to coffee shop’s sales so far.
Calandra and the rest of the SIFE students involved with the project are working to execute several marketing initiatives designed to increase sales.
“The major plan is to bring in a larger drink menu,” he said. Various teas should be introduced to the menu within the next two or three weeks, according to Calandra. He intends to have a variety of different coffee drinks and cold blender drinks by the fall semester.
Additional initiatives include advertising more in the dorms, and working with departments in the college to cater coffee for events and meetings.
The initial reaction from many students to the lounge is that they are glad that it’s here, but would like to see the space developed more.
“I think it’s a nice place to sit around with friends or hold club meetings,” said Carley Hartman, a senior psychology major. “It’s a good addition to the campus.”
“I like it. It’s homey; I like the colors and the atmosphere,” said Jaquar Sampson, freshman psychology major. “It’s cozy.”
Students generally agree that the lounge is comfortable, but also admitted that they didn’t feel compelled to spend a whole lot of time there during their free time.
“They should sell more kinds of food and snacks,” suggested LaChia Logan, freshman business major.
Other students expressed that they would like to things added to the lounge to make it more appealing as a hangout spot.
“It’s nice, but it would be better if they added something like a pool table or foosball,” said Sarah Young, senior communications major. “I think that would get more students up there.”
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