A new way to fuel your day: Tech Spot grab-and-go café opens on campus
More than two dozen students line up on the first floor of the LRC on a Tuesday afternoon. It’s been unseasonably cool and raining on and off for days. It’s the perfect kind of day for an afternoon croissant and a cup of coffee, and that’s why they’re here – because it’s also the perfect kind of day to visit the brand new café on campus.
On September 5, WVU Tech Dining Services officially opened the Tech Spot, a café that offers grab-and-go meals, snacks, cold drinks and – wait for it – Starbucks coffee and teas.
Devin Godbey is the Assistant Director of Dining Services at Tech. She began overseeing dining on campus in July and has been working across the board to enhance the dining experience at the institution.
"With the Tech Spot, we wanted to offer students another option besides the Bears Den; an upscale coffeehouse experience where they can use their meal plans," she said.
The new café, tucked into a cozy spot right next to the Bears Den, offers breakfast sandwiches, fresh-made salads and savory sandwiches, soups, pastries, bagels, muffins, yogurt parfaits and a wide range of health-conscious meal options. It also serves up drinks from the Starbucks “We Proudly Serve” line of products, which Godbey said includes Frappuccinos, lattes, iced coffees and Tazo brand teas.
Ashley Aiello is a second-year nursing student from Belleville, West Virginia. She visited the Tech Spot during its grand opening. As shop employees worked to swap out the café’s counter items from breakfast to lunch, she shared that she was pleased with the new addition to the campus dining scene.
"They have these little muffins that are really good and they have Starbucks, which is really exciting. The stuff here is easy to take on the go. It's different from what they serve in the Bears Den, so it's a good variety," she said.
For Godbey, that variety in both food and dining atmosphere is an important part of the college dining experience.
"It just adds something exciting to our campus. It gives them more options and we're keeping with the modern trends in the college setting right now," she said.
Staffed by full-time Tech employees and student workers, the Tech Spot plans to operate between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., but hours will fluctuate in first few weeks as the shop figures out when its peak hours will be.
"I want students and staff to come in and give us a try,” said Godbey. “We’re still perfecting all the little details, but we’re here and we’re offering great food and great coffee."
Other campus hangouts
The Tech Spot isn’t the only place on campus for students looking for a place to hang out.
Right next to the Tech Spot is the commuter lounge, where commuter students can spend time between classes. And just across the street is the Benedum Events & Activities Rooms – or “The BEAR.” The BEAR is the headquarters of WVU Tech’s Student Government Association and offers pool tables, ping pong, TV access and lounge/study space for WVU Tech students. The BEAR is open from 8 a.m. – midnight Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 1 a.m. Friday, 1 p.m. – 1 a.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. – midnight Sunday.