Northwestern library-goers soon will be able to grab lattes and mochas without trudging through the cold rain and snow.
The Plaza Cafe, scheduled to open by April 1, will be located at the East Tower entrance of the University Library, closest to Norris University Center. The entrance has been closed since construction began last fall.
The cafe originally was scheduled to open by the end of 2002.
The cafe will be run by SodexhoUSA, the company that provides food in NU’s residence dining halls and in Norris.
Paul Komelasky, SodexhoUSA’s district manager, said the new cafe’s food and beverage selection will resemble that of Lisa’s Cafe, which is on the ground floorr of Slivka Residence Hall.
Panini sandwiches will be the featured food, and the cafe will offer grab-and-go sandwiches, baguettes, pastries, brownies, cookies, coffee and bottled drinks, Komelasky said.
It will be open from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday, said John Blosser, head of the library’s serials department.
Some students said they are looking forward to the cafe’s opening.
Mike Fong, Associated Student Government’s student services vice president, said the cafe was a product of students’ wishes.
“It’s a place in the library students can hop on over to,” said Fong, a Weinberg junior.
Brendon Dusel, who works at the library’s information desk, said the cafe will provide a good alternative to the food now offered in the library.
“The food’s pretty scary in the vending machines,” said Dusel, a Weinberg sophomore. “The cafe would, shall we say, meet a need.”
Komelasky said the cafe’s lounge furniture will provide a good study environment. The cafe, which will seat 35, also will provide wireless and hard-port Internet access.
Noor Riaz, a Weinberg senior, said the new cafe will make it easier to get food in the library.
“You don’t have to take your coat with you,” she said. “You don’t have to take anything with you when you want to get food.”
The Plaza Cafe is the first of many small eateries to be launched around campus in the next few years.
Komelasky said Sodexho will create a cafe similar to the Plaza Cafe in Crowe Hall, the addition to Kresge Centennial Hall scheduled to finish construction in spring.
SodexhoUSA also plans to build an Einstein Bros Bagels in the new materials science building east of the Technological Institute, Komelasky said.
