In the cafeteria, there is a spot that has been under construction since the beginning of the year. That spot is going to be a coffee shop. This project, according to Donna Murdock, principal Serrano’s secretary, “has been [in the works] since this past summer. And is scheduled to be done on December 3rd.” There have been some setbacks along the way. Murdock shared that, “we’ve had a lot of bumps, because of permits.” The project was supposed to be done a while ago, however, along the way the permits required for the equipment and construction of the coffee pod were forgotten. In order to officially start construction, permits are required. They recently obtained the permits needed to begin the process and Chase Construction, the company in charge of its construction, will begin working on it. Aramark is the company that provides the cafeteria food and they will also be providing the coffee for students and staff. Cafeteria workers will also run the coffee sales. Most of the money made from lunch goes back to the school. The same thing will happen with the coffee shop. A portion of the money will go to the Aramark company, and the rest will go to the school district and, eventually, back to the school. Murdock clarified, “It’s not like they are here to make a profit. It’s just that they are providing a service to our students.”

This new coffee shop may pose a threat to the Puma Den coffee sales. For the past three years, marketing students have sold coffee in the Puma Den, however with the construction of the new coffee shop in the cafeteria, they are expecting a drastic decline in their sales. Rob Lange, the marketing teacher explained, “they basically stole our idea. Our coffee sales are down about sixty percent.” Even before the coffee shop has been opened, Puma Den coffee sales are already reaping its negative effects. The mention of the coffee shop was met with groans from the marketing students. They have worked hard to promote their sales and do not like that their ideas was “stolen.” Lange pointed out that, “the coffee station in our Puma Den is three times cheaper and we’ve been doing that since we opened.” 

While the marketing students don’t seem to be a fan of the new coffee shop, many others are. Students and teachers are excited for the easily accessible coffee service. While the project has had obstacles, the school administrators are excited to see it open on December 3rd.