Students can expect a new coffee shop in the Union opening in January
In a few months Caribou Coffee will be here.
The North Dakota State University Dining Center announced the arrival of a new coffee shop on Oct. 28. With the announcement, students learned that the Union Coffee Shop will be replaced with Caribou Coffee which is coming to NDSU in January.
With the announcement, the question of whether current employees at the Union Coffee shop will be working at the new Caribou arose.
“Our focus is always on our customers and their feedback-and that is what led us to Caribou,”
Tara Ferkinhoff, Assistant Director of Marketing
Tara Ferkinhoff, the Assistant Director of Marketing, ensured that all the current dining employees who work at the Union Coffee Shop will transfer to Caribou adding that employees, “Will receive Caribou team training the week prior to our grand opening.”
Ferkinhoff went on to explain that NDSU dining is always in need of employees saying any students interested in being a barista or working another position can apply on their website.
When asked if she thinks the new Caribou will take business away from the Minard Coffee Shop, Bully Brew or the Caribou Coffee located at the Bridges Student Apartments, Ferkinhoff doesn’t think the other locations will be negatively affected.
“Our focus is always on our customers and their feedback-and that is what led us to Caribou,” Ferkinhoff stated.
“With the addition of Caribou, we anticipate that some of our Minard customers may start visiting the Union to enjoy Caribou, and some of our Union customers may transition to Minard for NDSU’s dining favorites like our salads, hot sandwiches, scotcheroos, Sandy’s Donuts and Seattle’s Best Coffee.”
Ferkinhoff mentioned that with the addition of Caribou, there will be a variety of options available to students when it comes to coffee.
According to Associate Director of Dining, Mary Sinner, the incorporation of Caribou has been in the works for about a year and a half. The official contract with Caribou was signed over the summer with the grand opening set for Jan. 14.
In regards to the renovation of the old Union Coffee Shop location will receive, Sinner shared what students can expect.
“What you see now will be completely different. A full demolition will begin Monday, Nov. 4, and we will be building a fully branded Caribou location.”
Sinner went on to explain that the entire coffee shop area and surrounding tables will be closed off during the renovation process.
Though Caribou won’t be opening until January, students can still purchase coffee and food since the Union Coffee Shop will move to the Union’s food court at the old Chopped location.
Sinner explained that the entire menu will still be served with happy hour (50 percent off of pastries and hot drinks) still offered Monday-Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
With the anticipation of Caribou, Ferkinhoff encourages students to follow NDSU Dining on Facebook and Instagram because there will be a ton of Caribou gift cards, drinkware and gear students can win.