A Starbucks may fill the empty space in the French House that previously housed Cafe Vieux Carre. Mark Kraner, director of contracted auxiliary services, said the University signed a letter of intent to open a Starbucks and said the contract is still under negotiation. The French House has been without a cafe for a semester after the Vieux Carre went bankrupt and closed for summer 2005. Starbucks will not be operated like the store located in the bookstore, which is operated by Barnes and Noble and “proudly serves” Starbucks coffee, Kraner said. “[Starbucks] thinks it’s an exciting location to go into,” Kraner said. “They think it’s a fabulous place.” Kraner said the hours of operation and the extent of the menu are still being discussed, but soups and sandwiches are not being considered for the menu. The location will accept Paw Points, the on-campus currency students purchase as part of a meal plan, Kraner said. Kraner said the University spoke with Highland Coffees, PJ’s Coffee and Charlie’s Coffee before signing a letter of intent with Starbucks. The letter of intent prevents the University from canceling contract negotiations for 60 days and only allows Starbucks the right to refuse within that time period. Kraner said the contract should be settled within the 60 day period, and renovations will take about six weeks. Antoinette Bolden-Carmouche, administrative coordinator for the Honors College, works in the French House and said she does not drink coffee but does not oppose the addition. “I would like them to put some type of sandwiches in there,” Bolden-Carmouche said. Mark Dochterman, student activities coordinator for the Honors College who students know as Doc, also works in the French House but said he does not like the idea of adding a Starbucks. Dochterman said he does not think a Starbucks is what students want in the French House since many frequented the Vieux Carre for food. “Chartwells kicked out a local place and put a Starbucks there,” he said. “It was unique and not a CC’s or Starbucks.” He said the Vieux Carre was part of the Louisiana culture, serving New Orleans style soups and beignets.
Dochterman said by replacing the Vieux Carre with a national company, the University is “squishing out the uniqueness.”
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