Holding a white chocolate mocha Frappuccino, James Arquitt was at Starbucks’ grand opening at UNC Pembroke on August 16.
Ribbon cut – First row from left: Cal Thetford, Sodexo regional manager, Karen Fagen, Starbucks store manager, Chancellor Kyle Carter, Jim Halcombe, Sodexo manger for UNCP, Sarah Carter and Brian McCormick, student government president; second row from left: Neil Hawk, vice chancellor for Business Affairs, Dr. Ken Kitts, provost and Robert Fleming, Starbucks district manager
“I’ve been to Starbucks before, and I’m an avid coffee drinker,” said Arquitt, who took a few minutes away from freshman orientation to grab the iced coffee.
Business looks good for Starbucks’ first fully licensed coffee shop, located on the arts quad in the D.F. Lowry Building. With the ribbon cut, whoopee pies, double chocolate chip brownies and cheesecake were passed around as a long line queued up for Starbucks signature beverages.
“I’ll be here every morning before class,” said Molly Battleson, a freshman from Greensboro. “It’s great to have Starbucks here. We wanted to be the first ones here.”
Luli Vergara of Fayetteville agreed. “I’m going to study here,” said Vergara, who was holding a double chocolate chip Frappuccino.
UNCP officials joined with managers from Starbucks and Sodexo Food Services, which will operate the coffee shop, to cut the ribbon and discuss the new addition to campus dining. The new coffee shop sported all new furniture, including new umbrellas on the patio.
“I envision this as a gathering place for students, staff and faculty,” said Chancellor Kyle R. Carter. “I believe this is the type of development that will make UNCP an institution of choice.”
“The Carter family are Starbucks fans,” said Sarah Carter, wife of the chancellor. “This summer while in Seattle, the home of the company, we visited the first Starbucks.”
Student Government Association President Brian McCormick said he might not have attended the morning event if not for a cup of coffee.
“It’s a great thing,” McCormick said. “As SGA President, I have been advocating for more places for students to hang out. This is it.”
The new coffee shop will employ 14 workers and add to UNCP’s diverse dining fare, said Jane Kay, Sodexo’s retail manager for the university. Sodexo manages five dining options on campus with a sixth, Papa John’s, opening in the new Allied Health Building later this year.
Operating hours are Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Sodexo’s campus dining manager, Jim Halcombe, was also pleased with the new coffee shop. “This is a fully licensed Starbucks, and it’s great to have them,” he said. “They have very high standards for customer service.”