Skinny vanilla lattes, white chocolate mochas and caramel frappuccinos will be even more of a familiar sight at the UA when an addition to the Starbucks Coffee Company opens up in the UofA Bookstore.
Construction will begin in January and is not expected to impede the usual surge in bookstore traffic typical at semester’s start, said Bookstore marketing director Catherine Correia.
Starbucks will operate in the store’s general books section, just to the right of the main entrance, Correia said.
But instead of the
I really don’t even like their drinks. They’re all pre-made and watered down. I’d rather support local business and think the university should, too.
-Tricia Briggs,
education junior
scaled-down version seen in some grocery stores, the coffee giant intends to deploy a full shop complete with pastries and seating in addition to coffee, she said.
The bookstore plans on shifting bookshelves and displays to open approximately 1,500 square feet for the shop, she said.
“”I think it’ll be a little tighter but there’s enough room to accommodate everybody,”” she said.
The partnership with Starbucks is something UA Bookstores has been contemplating for a while, Correia added.
“”It’s a win-win situation,”” Correia said, adding that more students coming in for Starbucks coffee will produce more traffic in the store.
Starbucks will be joining a group of establishments providing coffee and pastries in the Student Union Memorial Center.
Canyon CafǸ and Java Jive supervisor Ken Kastenhuber said he’s not concerned about the new competition.
“”There’s more than enough business here to have more than one coffee shop in the Union,”” Kastenhuber said.
Some students disagree with the addition of a Starbucks in the
bookstore.
“”What’s the point?”” said Tricia Biggs, an education junior. “”We already have a place in the Union that sells coffee.””
Biggs works at Javalina’s, a local coffee shop on the East Side. She said she prefers her caffeine fix from places other than Starbucks.
“”I really don’t even like their drinks,”” Biggs said. “”They’re all pre-made and watered down.
“”I’d rather support local business and think the university should, too.””
Other students are more excited about the planned addition.
“”It’s just going to be really convenient because you have a relaxed place to have coffee and read books,”” said undeclared freshman Arlene Vargas. “”I mean, who doesn’t like Starbucks, right?””
