Claire Herquet & Peyton Harris, Editors

Imagine a morning on campus without the hum of espresso machines, the smell of fresh coffee and matcha lattes, or a reliable spot on main campus to refuel between classes and sit with our colleagues. With the imminent closure of Starbucks in our Student Union, this is the reality we are facing. In an email released to the student body, Dr. Gaby shared that Starbucks will soon be replaced with a “vibrant space featuring new dining and beverage options designed to elevate your campus experience.”

On Wednesday, Nov. 20, the news of Starbucks’ impending closure spread rapidly across campus and its neighboring communities. Students woke up to several posts on Instagram and Fizz social app sharing details about the store’s contract termination at La Salle. As a result, it is expected to close before the start of our Spring 2025 semester. Student workers at Starbucks, speaking under anonymity, told Collegian staff that they were originally informed of the planned closure in September.

The Student Government Association (SGA) met Wednesday evening, with the news of the closure on their agenda. “The school is ending the contract because over the years there has not been any expected financial benefit from Starbucks. So, they will have a replacement which we do not know yet (but it might be ready made coffee),” says an anonymous member of SGA relaying information to the Collegian staff.

“Since prices have been going up, I think their [Starbucks] sales might have gone down sadly. I hope that maybe the students can convince the school to keep Starbucks open since we all love it,” says an anonymous student worker at Founders Brew.

Starbucks is located on the main campus, arguably where most students are during the school day. It has always been accessible and familiar; since it is a branded food and drink option, most customers know what they’re getting and can stop quickly between classes, athletics, meetings or other commitments during the week. Without it, there will be a noticeable gap, given the lack of other branded choices on campus, making the closure all the more disappointing for busy students and faculty alike.

We spoke to various students today asking them what they think about the news. “This morning I found out from some of the Starbucks employees that they are planning to close in December. I am furious,” said a student who wishes to remain anonymous.

“I’m actually very upset about it closing,” said junior Cassidy McGonigle. “It’s a big place where people study. Although we have the library, if you go into Starbucks, you’ll always see students and professors studying and doing partner work. It’s not gonna be the same.”

There is a petition on change.org regarding its closure, written by an anonymous student. The bio states: “While the replacement is unknown, it’s highly unlikely whatever it is will have the same variety and quality of drink and food that Starbucks offers.” So far, there have been 329 verified signatures and several comments asserting that they do not want Starbucks to go. The number of endorsers for this petition continues to climb.

In key features to the new space in the email, the administration shared that La Colombe Coffee Roasters will be served. They will feature rotating menu options and will be accepting Meal Exchange all-day. Possibly the largest change from the current Starbucks space will be “expanded evening hours with a twist (top)—beer on tap and various cans available at designated times.”

The University community remains shocked at the sudden news. “With the revelations that student workers were told as far back as September, students have a right to feel angry at the hidden nature of this news. Why would something so iconic to campus, specifically the Union – something directly pointed out to prospective students on their tours – be taken away without input from the broader university community?” says an anonymous transfer student at La Salle. 

“It’s a great time to be an Explorer—we can’t wait for you to come back for the spring semester to enjoy this new, fun, and exciting dining experience and raise a glass (or a coffee cup) to celebrate”, the administration shared. The future of coffee (and beer) on this campus remains uncertain with less than three weeks before finals and students returning home for the break. However, one thing is for certain– the outpour of sadness Explorers are facing. Many Explorers feel angry and blindsided while others simply want answers on why.