Alexander Gentile
Connector Contributor

Students on North Campus have long languished over the absence of a fresh, robust cup of Starbucks coffee, an advantage South Campus has boasted on for about two years. Last Monday, an impressive new location was installed in the basement of Lydon Library, and according to witness accounts it has been well received.

Upon entering the new location, the fireplace sitting in the middle of the room seizes the eye. Built on a more homogenous concept the new Lydon Library Starbucks looks and feels like a street-side stand-alone location. Its design is dominated by clean steel accents, bright glossed pine and a seating arrangement split between comfy couches and ample two or four person table seating. Dark-lit with a calming ambiance, the new location is great for late-night study breaks and casual meet ups. When temperatures allow, students will have the opportunity to take advantage of a heated outdoor patio to enjoy the fresh air and compliment North Campus with a more inviting environment.

One of the baristas, Chelsea, can attest to the new location’s acceptance into student life. “It’s been very busy non-stop, especially during the day since we opened last Monday,” she said. Considering that other coffee-shops close by, namely Eggroll Café and Dunkin Donuts, are off-campus, students looking for a caffeine jolt or delicious pastry now have a convenient and readily available alternative just down the way from the dorms.

Rachel DiGregorio, Marketing Director for Dining Services, sees the new Starbucks as an opportunity for students to take advantage of the space for its comfortable environment, something she says North Campus lacks. “The biggest thing is that there are not a lot of green or grassy areas where people can congregate and relax between classes. Whether it’s a club meeting or a one-on-one to go over a project, this is really our first that’s contained within itself,” she said. For any students that are interested, DiGregorio said hat space can also be reserved for regularly-scheduled events such as open-mics and poetry readings.

There is a Grand Opening scheduled Feb. 4 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the new location where students can participate in several events such as a prize wheel, a guess the bean contest (one lucky student can win free coffee for the whole semester!), samplings of coffee and teas and of a new bakery line called La Bolange, a San Fransisco-based partner that aims to bring a French-style pastry selection to Starbucks (don’t worry, also soon available on South). Rowdy the Riverhawk will also be there as a guest-starring “celebrity” barista!

All in all it appears that the new Starbucks will be a great addition to North Campus life. With its comfortable design concept and enticing selection of refreshments, students have an attractive location to get together or escape the rigors of campus life right in their own backyard. Let’s just hope the legacy of South Campus lines doesn’t follow!