David Benda
Redding Record Searchlight
Published 4:00 p.m. UTC Jun 16, 2018
The 800-pound coffee bean is landing on the Shasta College campus.
The Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a 10-year franchise agreement with Starbucks to open a location in the building that houses the library.
Starbucks is expected to open this fall in the space formerly occupied by The Lance, Shasta College’s student newspaper which is currently looking for a new home on campus.
In an era in which national food franchises are common on college campuses, it’s not surprising that Starbucks, which has had a huge presence in Redding for years, has finally discovered Shasta College.
More: Free year of college coming to Shasta County ‘changes the conversation’
And the financial boost Starbucks is expected to give the school will be much-needed, board President Scott Swendiman said.
“We are going to be in a declining revenue situation very quickly and it’s an opportunity to make up for some of that,” Swendiman said a day after the board unanimously approved the contract.
Too, having Starbucks on campus will make Shasta College more attractive to would-be students, Swendiman offered.
We want “to bring the college up to par with the rest of society, so to speak, and make it a place that is attractive and appealing to people who are considering going there,” he said.
School President Joe Wyse said revenue from Starbucks will help the school’s operations.
The total buildout cost will be about $750,000, which includes $200,000 to pay for Starbucks equipment. There also is a one-time $30,000 franchise fee.
Starbucks will receive 7 percent of the store’s monthly gross revenues in royalties.
It’s not clear how much the on-campus Starbucks must make to break even.
Bringing Starbucks on campus was not without some initial concerns.
The contract first came up at the board’s May 9 meeting, at which time some on the board worried about the non-competitive clause. Would it prevent the school’s food services from selling smoothies and other specialty drinks? What if the school wanted to bring Dutch Bros into the quad area for a day?
So the non-competitive clause was changed so it only applies to the specific building Starbucks is in.
“That totally negates any concerns I had,” board Vice President Rob Lydon said at Wednesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, there’s been some talk that The Lance will move to building 2100 on campus, but Peter Griggs, the paper’s adviser, told me nothing has been decided.
Griggs emphasizes that The Lance is not going away.
“The Lance is currently well-funded for the operating expenses it incurs, however, should additional funding be required, I’m confident that our Student Senate would be willing to consider and help with any reasonable funding requests/needs,” Griggs said in an email.
Of the student paper moving to accommodate Starbucks, Griggs said they’re happy to help the school.
“We have moved before. The Lance is all digital, an online publication, if you will,” Griggs said, “so where we move physically has less to do with the quality of publication we will continue to put out.”
Roots shoots for early September opening
Work has started on turning the former Wendy’s in downtown Redding into a Roots Juice Bar.
I stopped by the Pine Street location Friday and spoke to owner Ricky Rothmann, who told me they are waiting on permits so they can start construction.
Rothmann is working with Elkins Construction and One Shop, which is doing the blueprints and some of the design work.
“We are really trying to revamp the whole thing because we really don’t want to look like a Wendy’s,” Rothmann said.
More: Roots Juice Bar to open in old Wendy’s spot in downtown Redding
He hopes to open in early September.
Because the building housed a fast-food restaurant, Rothmann said the layout is perfect for what he wants to do.
“The floorplan is awesome. That is one of the reasons we wanted to rent this space. We don’t have to change it,” he said.
Roots was established in 2013 by delivering its juices to family and friends. Its popularity grew and soon the juice bar was setting up shop at the Redding Farmers Market before it opened a juice bar inside Country Organics in Mission Square in Bechelli Lane.
It opened its second location in the FoodMaxx shopping center more than two years ago.
Yuet Bistro closing, America’s Tire expanding
Yuet Bistro, a Chinese restaurant that opened in the Cobblestone Shopping Center in 2003, will close after business Sunday.
Co-owner Ken Chen told me he is looking forward to retirement.
Once the restaurant closes, America’s Tire will expand into the space.
Greg Sutter, of Ethan Conrad Properties, which owns the center, said they attempted to accommodate Yuet Bistro.
“He just wants to retire and he didn’t want to move spots,” Sutter said. “We tried to keep him. It just didn’t work out.”
The America’s Tire expansion is among recent changes at the Hartnell Avenue center since Ethan Conrad Properties purchased it a year ago.
More: Cobblestone Shopping Center gets new owner
Cornerstone Bank purchased the former Kragen Auto Parts building on the corner of Hartnell and Parkview and plans to open a branch there next year.
Papa’s Cheesesteaks will open in the former Little Caesars Pizza spot next to Yama Sushi.
Reporter David Benda can be reached at 225-8219 or david.benda@redding.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS.
Let’s block ads! (Why?)