Changes Coming to BU Coffee Shop

Changes are on the way in October to the Chicory Coffee Company in Shott Hall to provide better services to Bluefield University students.

Thanks to Corey Mullins, vice president of Student Development, and Pioneer College Caterers, who want to grow BU’s coffee shop, the Chicory Coffee Company in Shott Hall will soon provide students with a better experience. 

Mullins said that when speaking with the Student Development staff he learned that the Chicory Coffee Shop was lacking some equipment that other coffee shops have, including an espresso machine that will be added to the BU coffee shop in late October. 

Pioneer College Caterers is an essential player in the changes for the coffee shop. Pioneer makes a yearly donation to Bluefield University. This year, its donation will be used to improve the Chicory Coffee Company. The donation will help provide the products for the coffee shop and the staff to run the coffee shop kiosk. 

Another change in the talks is the coffee brand served at the Chicory Coffee Company. Mullins and Pioneer College Caterers are deciding if Starbucks coffee will continue to be served or if a different coffee brand will be used.

“If we go with a different type of coffee, maybe the drinks can be more creative and more personalized to Bluefield,” Mullins said. Serving the Starbucks brand means there is a specific menu of drinks. Perhaps serving a different coffee brand would allow more diverse beverages. 

Menu changes are another factor being discussed. Partnering with Pioneer College Caterers, Mullins wants students to be able to voice what menu items they may be interested in. Adding more drink options besides coffee, like smoothies or protein shakes, is one possible change. After some changes have been made, Mullins and Pioneer College Caterers will use student surveys and Pioneer food service studies to adjust the Chicory Coffee Company’s menu to meet students’ needs. 

Another possible change is the hours of operation. Currently, Chicory Coffee Company is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mullins is exploring an option for the coffee shop to be open mid-afternoon until 4 p.m. or 5 p.m. Hour changes would depend on staffing and budgeting. 

Mullins is also in discussion about Chicory Coffee Company being open for special events, like Home, Homecoming, and graduation ceremonies. Extended hours would give students extra time to purchase from the coffee shop and be a place for alumni to come while visiting campus. 

“The purpose behind the conversation is how we can provide more for the students and enhance the student experience here at Bluefield,” Mullins said.