From Chimes to Chats, new cafes crowd campus

Students will have no difficulty engaging in "coffee talk" this spring, as a multitude of coffee houses are opening around campus. The newest addition to the University coffee scene is the Tuscany Premium Coffee cafe, which will open in April at the Shops at Penn on 34th and Walnut Streets. Tuscany will serve various coffees, along with baked goods. In addition to Tuscany, a coffee house may move into the Quadrangle, Community House Assistant Dean in Residence Diana Koros said last night. "We thought it would be wonderful to have something comfy and relaxing and interesting," Koros said, citing McClelland Hall and a room in the basement of Ashhurst as possible sites for the facility. And this fall, residents of the Castle began putting together a monthly Friday night coffee house in the Castle's lobby. With almost 30 tables and musical entertainment -- plus desserts and coffee served by candlelight -- Castle residents hope to provide a comfortable atmosphere for the University community to come together. "It's also a good way for the Castle to inform the University community on what's going on here," Management and Technology junior Michael Isenberg said. Isenberg, who helped form the coffee house program, said the Castle's format and atmosphere is "a thousand times better" than some of the other offerings on campus. My Favorite Muffin, to be located in The Book Store, will begin operation in late March. Gene's Beans has become one of the prime attractions of Chats, the 1920 Commons eatery which opened last week. Like most coffee shops, Gene's Beans serves everything from cappuccino to flavored coffees. Bucks County Coffee House, located on Sansom Street, began operation last fall when it replaced Beanie's, a coffee house that closed last year. And since last year, Wawa Food Market has promoted two coffee kiosk locations --Eone in the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall and the other in the Wawa at 38th and Spruce Streets. And Chimes cafe, another coffee house at 40th and Pine streets, has been a popular student hang-out for the past year. According to University officials, coffee houses are so popular that the many campus locations will not suffer from the influx, and see it as healthy competition. "They are a hot, popular segment of the retail market," Shops at Penn Manager Michael Fox said. "We've had a number of coffee companies interested." Although Bucks County Coffee House is just around the corner, Fox said the newest addition to the Shops at Penn will still thrive. The Book Store Director Michael Knezic said he felt Chats and My Favorite Muffin will "complement" one another. "I think the two will work well with each other," he said, noting that the two restaurants cater toward different crowds at different hours. And Dining Services Director William Canney said Chats offers more than just coffee and pastries, and therefore entices a large clientele. Canney said both facilities report to the same supervisor -- Vice President for Business Services Steven Murray. For a time, the University considered bringing in a coffee house as one of the retailers to reside in the bottom level of the parking garage at 38th and Walnut Streets. But Associate Treasurer Christopher Mason said he rejected that idea because there are "too many of those right now." Fox said he did not think the current number of coffee houses was problematic. But he added that he did not know how many coffee houses it would take to reach the "limit" for the University campus. "Ultimately, the laws of supply and demand will answer that question," he said. Koros said each coffee shop has a different environment and style, giving students ample choices for where to go for a cup of coffee.