Committed Starbucks fans and coffee drinkers alike have reason to smile as the days get colder, because the VandalStore Starbucks is now open for business.
The grand opening was at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the bookstore and formally introduced the popular coffee house to the University of Idaho’s campus.
The “soft-opening” was, Oct. 17, which meant the store was open but had not done any formal advertising, said John Bales, director of the VandalStore.
“Our job as a bookstore is to provide services that support the students and enhance their overall education experience,” Bales said. “So we added a product that can improve what we already provide, such as books, technology and Vandal gear.”
The layout of Starbucks emphasizes the community atmosphere that the company prides itself on, and provides a new place for students to study.
“There is a laptop bar with several plugins, comfortable chairs to sit in and plenty of space to study, so I think combining a Starbucks inside the VandalStore will add to the on-campus experience,” Bales said.
Tyrone Brooks, associate vice president of auxiliary services that oversees the VandalStore, said most college bookstores he has seen have coffee shops inside, so putting in a Starbucks was a good addition.
“We liked the idea of collaborating coffee with everything else the bookstore offers,” Brooks said. “This will provide a great place for students to hang out, relax and take advantage of all the benefits the bookstore has.”
During signature weekends, such as Homecoming, Vandal Friday and Mom’s and Dad’s Weekends, Brooks said having a Starbucks inside the bookstore has potential to draw the attention of future Vandal fans so they can experience a little bit of the university.
“Starbucks is universally known, and that has the ability to bring people in and still maintains the consistency to keep people coming back,” Brooks said.
The recent bookstore renovations, combined with Starbucks, complete the feel of the VandalStore, Brooks said.
Parking and Transportation Services also added eight new Starbucks-accessible parking spots on Narrow Street, located on the south side of the VandalStore.
“We knew there were limited parking options to go to the bookstore, so we made an agreement with the city that allowed us to create eight 30 minute parking spots,” said Rebecca Couch, Parking and Transportation Services information specialist. “The remaining six spaces are for people who purchased a Red-colored parking pass.”
Couch also said these eight spots are subject to change if more spots are needed for the Starbucks customers.
“We support the VandalStore and auxiliary services because their customers are our customers as well, so it was in our best interest to provide them with proficient parking,” Couch said.