Strange Brew Coffeehouse has opened a new coffee shop on campus in the lobby of the Bryce Griffis residence hall. “This is definitely a coffee shop for all the students,” said Strange Brew Coffeehouse owner and operator Shane Reed. “The back door and the front door are always open so anyone – not just the honors students – can come and sit around.”
Reed said he got the idea to open an extension of the Strange Brew Coffeehouse inside the residence hall from the suggestion of his former teacher.
“She mentioned that there might be room for a coffee store, and we just decided to go ahead with it,” Reed said.
He said the newest Strange Brew coffee shop will have a few things added to the menu that the Strange Brew in Starkville does not have.
“We have more sandwiches, soups, cereal and other kinds of breakfast foods. It’s definitely more than just coffee shop food; you can actually come in and get a meal here.”
The new coffee shop has both indoor and outdoor seating. Reed said the new seating is more comfortable than other coffee shop locales.
“Our atmosphere here is definitely warmer than other coffee shops,” he said. “We have nice study areas not only inside the coffee shop but also in the dorm lobby, upstairs and outside.”
Reed said that they are planning to add about four or five tables in addition to the few patio seats that are outside now.
Freshman biological sciences major Jim Carmical frequents the new coffee shop.
“When I can afford it, it’s definitely a habit to come in here before my early classes and get a Coke or something like that to wake me up,” Carmical said. “I never really drank coffee before they finished building this shop.”
Carmical said he will probably be spending a lot of his time this semester inside the coffee shop studying and socializing.
“Exam week I may become really good friends with all the staff,” he said. “It’s normally quiet and nice in there, not to mention it smells good.”
Reed said he is planning a small concert series called Brewfest, tentatively scheduled for February.
“Brewfest will be about a couple of live music bands that will be nice to sit around to,” he said.
The official hours for the new Strange Brew Coffeehouse: Universitas are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. However, Reed said that the shop will stay open about an hour later depending on the customer flow.
“We’re definitely open to any kinds of suggestions,” he said. “If you don’t see something you want on the menu, just tell us and we’ll try and work on getting it there.”
Strange Brew has groups on both Facebook and Myspace to keep students posted on any new developments at either location.