Coffee • Jin
Oh makes a cup of Starbucks coffee
at the Bakery on upper campus. Erika
Jones / Online Forty-Niner
Starbucks stores may be in CSULB’s future
By Bobby Chore
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
For several years, Starbucks has been one of the most successful franchises in
the world, serving millions of customers a week. The richly brewed coffee of
this widespread company will soon be a selection for students at Cal State Long
Beach.
Two Starbucks stores are expected to open on campus within the next two years,
according to Don Penrod, general manager of 49er Shops. One is projected to open
in fall 2006, and will replace the Bakery at the Nugget. The other is expected
to open in fall 2007, and will be located in the Copy Center at the University
Library. Penrod said the completion of these shops will depend heavily on the
success of renovating the Nugget and the library.
Penrod is confident the presence of Starbucks will instantly influence campus
life.
“
Placing Starbucks on campus aims at two goals: commercial and student
success,” Penrod said. “We want to meet the needs of students, and
this could encourage more studying on campus, as well as a place to congregate
and establish friendships.”
Penrod stressed image is vital for a college campus to remain inhabited by its
students.
“
We want to improve the look of our campus, especially at the dining plaza,” he
said. “After renovation, Starbucks will only add to the appearance of our
dining plaza and the influence of campus life for students.”
A possible LAN line will be established in the Starbucks shops, which would make
Internet available. Combined with the worldwide recognition in the retail industry,
Penrod expects these stores to make about $500,000 a year.
However, the existence of Starbucks on campus could impact sales in other beverage
shops, namely the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf.
“
We are not intending to establish any competition between stores,” Penrod
said. “It will, however, cannibalize other sales, especially in Coffee
Bean.”
Francisca Freeman, a third-year health care administration major, finds the addition
of Starbucks to be a relief for regular coffee drinkers.
“
Putting a Starbucks on campus here would be great because a lot of my friends
are not in favor of Coffee Bean,” Freeman said.
“
We could
finally have somewhere else to go for coffee on campus.”
Enrique Robles, a third-year political science major, believes the popularity
of Starbucks could help the Coffee Bean and other shops.
“
I think that there would be too many people trying to get coffee at Starbucks,” Robles
said. “Because of that, students would grow impatient and go to the Coffee
Bean instead.”
Scott Abling, a third-year economics major, is not in favor of establishing a
Starbucks shop in the library.
“
If you place a Starbucks in the library, there would be a lot of trash left throughout
the library.”
Jessica Torres, a fourth-year liberal study major, agreed with the notion, and
offered an alternate location for the second store.
“
Instead of the library, Starbucks should be placed at the Outpost,” Torres
said.
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