When construction was completed on Huntsman Hall earlier this year, dozens of classrooms and study areas weren't the only things made available to students.
The opening of the new Wharton building also brought two new Au Bon Pain cafes to campus, making the total on campus more than half a dozen.
In addition to the two new cafes in Huntsman Hall, there is one in the Nursing Education Building and one in Steinberg-Dietrich Hall. These four eateries are all located between 34th and 38th Streets.
Au Bon Pain -- a Boston-based chain of French bakeries that has more than 240 locations throughout the world -- has made its home on several college campuses and also has locations throughout Philadelphia.
According to Au Bon Pain Regional Manager for Mid-Atlantic States Ron Boatright, the company's current prominence on campus resulted from its success at the Steinberg-Deitrich Hall location. The cafe was originally added there as a replacement for another bakery called My Favorite Muffin.
The University "loved this in comparison to what My Favorite Muffin had been doing to the point where they asked us to do this in Huntsman," Boatright said. "If we could do such a great job in Steinberg-Deitrich, we could do it in Huntsman Hall."
Penn Dining Contract and Relationship Manager Laurie Cousart said that the reason so many Au Bon Pains have been appearing on campus is "a factor of history."
"It happened as a result of several decisions over a long time," she said.
So far, the addition of the two new sites at Penn has been a success, according to Sheila Harris, one of the cafe's supervisors.
"Our sales are up 70 percent from our annual projection," Harris said. "We really do stay busy from 6:30 in the morning to 7:30 at night."
"My impression is that they are doing well," Cousart said.
But the popularity of the new Huntsman Hall locations has made the cafe's other locations less attractive to students.
Although the many cafes share the same name and boast many of the same items on their menus, not all Au Bon Pains are created equal.
The restaurants in the Nursing Education building and Steinberg-Dietrich Hall only accept cash, while Huntsman Hall is equipped to accept Dining Dollars, PennCash, Money Orders and Traveler's Checks.
And while Huntsman Hall's two Au Bon Pains have kitchens and make most sandwiches fresh, many of the others have only pre-made sandwiches that are transported from Huntsman Hall.
"Once the new location opened, they got 80 percent of our business," said Danielle Barham, manager of the Steinberg-Dietrich Au Bon Pain. "All we have is pre-made sandwiches, so it is difficult to compete."
Still, Barham says she is not discouraged.
"We are doing well compared to how big Huntsman Hall is," Barham said. "I expected a lot less business, but we are actually getting more [than I expected].... We will remain open."
While the Au Bon Pain on the first floor of Huntsman Hall has become popular with students, most undergraduates do not know about the building's second Au Bon Pain -- which is called the MBA Cafe -- located on the second floor.
"Not many undergraduates come here yet," Harris said. "But we are different than the one downstairs because we offer full-course meals with vegetarian options."
Harris said that she thinks more undergraduates will come when they realize the amenities the more hidden cafe offers.
But MBAs say they have already taken advantage of it.
"It is very important that there be a cafe on site," first-year MBA student Natalie Cotton said. "I come here twice a day.... Students buy everything, and we are a captive audience."
Students themselves have expressed mixed reactions to the Au Bon Pains, noting that although their menu is tempting, it is also very expensive.
"They are overpriced but good," College junior Jane Krymsky said.
College sophomore Camila Aguirre echoed Krymsky's sentiments.
"I'm here all the time, and it's way too expensive," Aguirre said.
Krymsky and Aguirre said that the expense will not deter them from coming regularly, though.
Wharton junior Amy Shah -- who has class in Huntsman Hall from noon until 6 p.m. -- said she finds the new Au Bon Pain locations very convenient.
"It's great," Shah said. "I can grab food and even eat it in class."
"In between classes, though, the lines can go out the door," Shah added. "I am late for class, but it's good food, so it's worth it."
