BY OWEN DINGLE
A coffee bar has been made possible at Mariemont High School thanks to a generous donation of $10,000 from a distinguished alumni. The coffee bar is expected to open in early 2017.
The donation was intended to be used for “something entrepreneurial,” said Mrs. Baas. The initial idea was to create a popcorn bar for the students, but the idea was scrapped and replaced by what Baas’s class hopes will be a popular coffee bar.
Mrs. Bass’s 4th bell Strategic Management class has been the leading force in the creation of the coffee bar. The class is composed of only 6 seniors: Anthony DiMichele, Drew Fiorenza, Luke Garrison, Jacob Crabtree, Kyle Howe, and Jacob Trester. The Strategic Management class has been put in charge of locating appliances, coffee brewers, and coffee bean vendors, materials necessary for the opening and operating of the coffee bar.
The unnamed coffee bar will be located in the freshman locker bay, where Mrs. Thomas’s old office used to be located. There is a window that has been boarded up for years, but the Management students plan to have the room cleaned up and turned into an upscale espresso bar. The bar isn’t expected to open until after the winter break, but work is already underway.
Nick Ganem, owner of the Milford Parlor coffee shop, is overlooking the operation and is offering his hand to the Management students by providing them with his old machines and his experience in the industry.
The management class plans on operating the coffee bar between 7:15-7:45am, and they are still deciding whether or not to have it open during the first bell.
Because the bar is still in early development stages, some decisions are yet to be made. For example, there are still conversations about whether or not Cup of Joe will offer food, or if other beverage options like tea or juice will be offered. Students will soon know about the options at the bar when it opens after the break.