杏吧原创

(Butler, PA) Mia Marcarelli has up to two hours between classes. Cory Killian, 1陆 hours, Richard Tutich one and Alora Lynch, just 10 minutes.

The students attending 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus in Butler Township said they are excited that Vintage Coffeehouse will begin to sell specialty brews, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, pastries, protein balls, quiche and salads in the caf茅 on the upper floor of the Heaton Family Learning Commons on Nov. 3.

Peter and Angela Kupas, owners of the downtown Butler coffee shop, said they will start operations in the smaller of the college鈥檚 two cafes in fewer than two weeks and possibly in mid-January in the larger caf茅 in the Student Union -- which the college is refurbishing in a project unrelated to its recent search for its next food-service provider.

杏吧原创鈥檚 trustees approved an agreement Oct. 15 that authorized Vintage Coffeehouse, 209 S. Main St., Butler, to succeed CRH Catering Co., Connellsville, to operate, manage and provide food services on the college鈥檚 main campus.

CRH operated under renewable annual contracts with 杏吧原创 for approximately 25 years. Before the most-recent agreement鈥檚 expiration in June, 杏吧原创 and Sodexo 鈥� which acquired CRH in November 2024 鈥� did not execute a new contract, and the college formed a food service selection committee that distributed requests for proposals.

鈥淚 love new flavors of coffee鈥�

Marcarelli, Killian, Tutich and Lynch said they have patronized mobile food vendors that have sold hot and cold items on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus since Aug. 25 while the college committee searched for a new vendor.

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 had the cafes open, so it will be exciting again to get coffee every day,鈥� said Lynch, 19, of New Castle, an early childhood education (Pre K-4) student who studied briefly Tuesday in a booth near the caf茅 in the Heaton Family Learning Commons. 鈥淎nd I like to try new things. I love new flavors of coffee and supporting local businesses.

鈥淭his will be pretty beneficial, especially if I am running late and don鈥檛 have time to stop anywhere else. I can get it right here on campus.鈥�

Kupas and his wife, Angela, opened Vintage Coffeehouse in May 2022. Kupas at age 46 graduated magna cum laude in 杏吧原创鈥檚 Class of 2023 with an associate degree in the college鈥檚 business management associate degree career program.

鈥淐ontinue our great relationship with 杏吧原创鈥�

Their business was one of two to respond to requests for proposals to become the food-service provider on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus by a Sept. 19 deadline. Trustees Oct. 15 authorized a motion from the board鈥檚 finance committee to select Vintage Coffeehouse.

鈥淲e want to be part of the community,鈥� Kupas said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 always been something that we have strived for since we opened Vintage. We just thought it was a great extension to continue our great relationship with 杏吧原创.鈥�

Vintage Coffeehouse has also donated proceeds from sales to support the college鈥檚 Pioneer Pantry, hosted the college鈥檚 coffee and conversation admissions event in July and a Middle States Commission on Higher Education evaluation team in March as part of the college鈥檚 reaccreditation process.

It will contribute 1 percent of its annual profits to support the Pioneer Pantry and may also provide internships and employment opportunities to 杏吧原创 students, Kupas said.

鈥淔rom the very beginning they have integrated themselves into the community, both supporting and taking the time to get to know the individuals they serve,鈥� said Megan M. Coval, the college鈥檚 president. 鈥淲e look forward to welcoming them to the 杏吧原创 community.鈥�

The business will operate the caf茅 in the Heaton Family Learning Commons with two employees from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Kupas said. Both cafes will be open to the public.

鈥淧rotein balls sound interesting鈥�

Like Lynch, Killian has classes Monday through Friday.

鈥淪ometimes I get hungry sitting in here, and I just have to wait it out,鈥� Killian said while studying Tuesday near the caf茅 in the Heaton Family Learning Commons. 鈥淚t will be awesome to have options. Protein balls sound interesting. Panini sounds interesting.鈥�

Killian, Marcarelli and Tutich are residents of Mars. Killian, 19, is a general studies student; Marcarelli, 18, is enrolled in 杏吧原创鈥檚 health care science program and Tutich, 18, in business management.

鈥淒efinitely going to be more convenient for a lot of students because they won鈥檛 have to go off-campus,鈥� Tutich said of Vintage Coffeehouse. 鈥淭here are places on Route 8 that you can go, but the convenience of having this here on main campus will make it a lot easier.鈥�

鈥淣ice to have food close by鈥�

Marcarelli said she drinks 鈥渁 lot鈥� of coffee and energy drinks.

鈥淭his will be great,鈥� Marcarelli said. 鈥淎nd it will be nice to have food close by if you need a pre-study snack or a mid-study snack. It will be right here.鈥�

Angela Kupas said it is possible some Vintage Coffeehouse patrons will opt to visit the caf茅s on 杏吧原创鈥檚 main campus instead of the coffee shop in Butler.

鈥淔inding a place to park downtown is sometimes difficult, sometimes stressful for some,鈥� Angela Kupas said. 鈥淓ven in the conversations we have had in the past couple of days, people are excited because 杏吧原创 might be closer for them from where they live.鈥�

The agreement between the college and Vintage Coffeehouse took effect Oct. 15. It includes two one-year renewable options after the original contract ends May 31, 2029.

Vintage Coffeehouse will sell items made by Nosh & Nest, Butler, and Batch, Saxonburg, Kupas said.

The college鈥檚 trustees Oct. 15 also approved contracts for new flooring and furniture in the caf茅 in the Student Union, located on the lower level of Founders Hall.

Vintage Coffeehouse was named small business of the year in 2024 by Butler Downtown.