The Student News Site of North Carolina A&T State University

The A&T Register

The Student News Site of North Carolina A&T State University

The A&T Register

The Student News Site of North Carolina A&T State University

The A&T Register

Starbucks to open on weekends

Starbucks, located on the bottom floor of Williams Dining Hall, will begin opening weekends beginning Nov. 6.

Starbucks will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.   Starbucks manager, Shawn Williams, said that the amount of weekend business it receives throughout the fall semester will determine if it will continue to open weekends during the spring semester.  It gives students another weekend option besides Williams Dining Hall, said Williams.  

Director of Auxiliary Services, Angela Peterson, said that the decision to open Starbucks on weekends came from a request from students.  At a food services advisory meeting, the opportunity to have Starbucks open on weekends was posed.  A group of students were present at the meeting and they said that it would be a great idea.

“They were pretty excited,” said Peterson.

Starbucks opened April 26 during the 2010 spring semester.  Its hours of operation are Monday through Friday 7 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. 

The Aggie dining website says that Starbucks offers quality coffees, handcrafted beverages and a cozy and quiet place to enjoy time with friends and colleagues.  According to Peterson Starbucks makes about $12,000 per month on average.  

In deciding which retail location to open on weekends Peterson said they looked to where students are going and since Starbucks is the most recent location to open on campus it draws the largest crowd.  

“It’s where students are gravitating,” Peterson said.  

Peterson also said that it was important to open a retail location where there was already weekend activity on campus.  

Since Williams Dining Hall is open weekends and generates a weekend crowd, Starbucks being in the same vicinity was the best location to open.

She then added that even though Pizza Hut is in the same area, Williams Dining Hall already serves pizza. “We wanted to try something different,” she said.

Peterson said that if Starbucks being open weekends works out, it will present the opportunity for other retail locations to be open as well.  

She said that the next step would be to move towards opening other Boss Webster retail locations like Pizza Hut and Power Blendz, on weekends.

“We are stepping into that mode,” Peterson continued.

Princess Jones, a junior biology major, said she visits Starbucks most of the time during the week.  “I think it is a great idea,” she said.  

Michael Curd, a junior, computer engineering major, said that he was happy to hear of Starbucks opening weekends.  “I don’t have to wait until during the week,” he said.  

He was also pleased with the chosen weekend hours of operation.  

With the winter months’ approaching Peterson believes Starbucks could draw in an even larger crowd.  “Were just testing the waters,” she said.

  • Shequia Cole
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