The start of a new school year at Taylor has brought both new faces and two new, student-tailored establishments to campus.
While talk of one of these establishments — a new campus store called The Bishop’s Nook — was cause for controversy last spring, plans for this building were not confirmed until May when former President P. Lowell Haines released a statement detailing the end of a deal with Starbucks, a business that was intended to open in the new campus store.
“The primary point of contention stemmed from Starbucks asking for more than we felt we could give, including their demand to have exclusive access to the campus for coffee service,” Haines said. “The administration is committed to significant coffee service in the Boren Campus Center and entering into an agreement (via Tree of Life) with Starbucks would have compromised that commitment.”
However, despite the lack of a coffee shop in this new campus store, students can still look forward to new spirit wear items, a larger book section and eventual access to a small sitting area in the store.
Sophomore Rachel Knarr is an employee at The Bishop’s Nook. She is impressed with how chic the new store looks.
“It’s more put together and makes Taylor feel like more of an establishment than just a little place in the middle of a cornfield,” Knarr said.
Sophomore Tarah Zumbrun said that while the ‘spaceship’ was a fun location for the campus store, the new building has a more professional-yet-homey look. She appreciates that it is more organized and is selling a bigger variety of merchandise, but finds it unfortunate that the store sits on the far edge of campus.
The other new addition to Taylor’s campus can be found inside the previous campus store that was located in the LaRita Boren Campus Center.
This new convenience store called Reade Ave. Market had its grand opening on Thursday, Aug. 22.
Nate Haugh, director of dining at Taylor University, said adding a convenience store to the Campus Center has been something he wanted to do since he started his job at Taylor.
Haugh recognized the needs of Taylor students who don’t have cars on campus to be able to access things such as personal hygiene items, snacks and medicine. The Reade Ave. Market will incorporate all these things as well as everything from ice cream treats to dorm-friendly foods and even spirit wear.
“We’re kind of isolated here on campus and I always thought that space was underutilized, so I wanted to give students the option to get things they need when it’s not so easy to get them otherwise,” Haugh said.
Additionally, students will be able to use dining dollars to purchase items in the Reade Ave. Market. However, one change students should look for is that all non-side snacks have been moved into the Reade Ave. Market.
Haugh also wants students to know that the market was created to be convenient for the students, so any suggestions of items that would make great additions to the market are always welcome.
