Jazzman’s Cafe opened on Monday in the DCC, replacing the food cart that was called The Beanery. Among the new products are espresso, smoothies, and many different types of teas. Its hours are much more extensive—Monday-Friday 7:30 am until midnight.
While the official grand opening is not scheduled until the start of the spring semester, Jazzman’s did begin operating on Monday night. David Gaul, marketing director for Hospitality Services at Rensselaer, said that opening day was “quite a bit of a success.” He said that they have been hearing a lot of feedback and “there has not been one negative at all.”
The easiest to notice change is the atmosphere. The construction started last month and for a while restricted access to the area around DCC 308. Gaul explained that Jazzman’s was originally planned to open at the beginning of the Fall 2004 semester, but because of delays, construction was continually being pushed back. He pointed out, though, that once it began construction was basically accomplished in a three week period.
The cafe is filled with artwork with music being piped in. Gaul said that the doors to DCC 308 are being kept closed to minimize noise and there have been no noise complaints. He stated that there have been “No issue[s] as far as faculty are concerned.”
Gaul said that they decided to open a Jazzman’s on campus because the old food cart was “antiquated,” and also because Jazzman’s, as a Sodexho national brand, seems to be popular on college campuses.
According to Lynn Browning, manager of retail brands, there are 115 Jazzman’s locations around the country on campuses, health care facilities, and other Sodexho locations. She also said that the brand recently won a “Hot Concepts! Award,” given by the Nation’s Restaurant News and Tyson’s Food Inc.
Jin-Woo Kim GRAD said that he felt that the food was “better than before,” but also said that he didn’t frequent the older food cart. Hee Jeong Kim GRAD said that the music and the atmosphere seemed to be improved.
At the same time, though, not all found the new cafe to be a large improvement. Michael Luon ’07 said “It’s the same place and the same food, just with a different look.”
Gaul said the Jazzman’s features Seattle’s Best Coffee as well as “upscale pastries,” smoothies, iced coffees, and a variety of teas. The cafe will also have hot grilled sandwiches both for breakfast and during the day.
He also said, “students really want late night options,” and pointed out that the cafe will remain open until midnight on weeknights. While the cafe only accepts cash, MAD/Bonus Bucks, and RAD currently, beginning in January, it will also accept credit and debit cards.
The grand opening of Jazzman’s is scheduled for Tuesday, January 18, 2005; the first day of classes for the spring semester. The coffee house being built on the corner of College Avenue and 15th Street, Java++, also opens that day. Gaul said that over break, there will be even “more of ambience,” as additional lighting and framework have yet to be added and that there would be raffles and specials to celebrate the grand opening.
