The AMS is bringing The Brew back to the JDUC.
Common Ground Coffee House‘s (CoGro) sister location, The Brew, is set to re-open in the newly renovated JDUC in January, Head Manager Elena Nurzynski said in an interview with The Journal.
Originally established in 2013, The Brew closed in March 2020 due to COVID-19 health restrictions. It has remained closed since then owing to the ongoing renovations for the revitalized JDUC project. Before its closure, The Brew was a student-run coffee shop offering inclusive and quality service with a wide range of food and drinks, according to its old Facebook account.
The Gazette announced on Aug. 8 that the full completion of the JDUC revitalization project will be delayed, and the JDUC won’t obtain occupancy until Nov. 29.
READ MORE: AMS’s move to JDUC pushed back after construction delays
While The Brew isn’t a new service to the AMS, students can expect some changes to the menu and atmosphere, Nurzynski said.
“The service will look kind of [like] a smaller, newer, more aesthetic version of the previous The Brew. Think on-the-go, express, convenient, definitely intimate,” she said.
Nurzynski said the team working on the opening of The Brew wants students to understand CoGro and The Brew will be similar, but they have different identities with The Brew favouring a to-go and quicker approach.
A formal announcement of The Brew’s return came during celebrations of CoGro’s 24th anniversary which included limited menu items such as birthday blondies, birthday cake, and a birthday white mocha during their birthday pop-up on Nov. 11, with sales continuing throughout the week.
“We wanted to make it birthday week rather than just birthday day. I think CoGro’s a really special service because it’s run by students for students, and it’s amazing to see how far the operation has come,” Nurzynski said.
AMS Vice-President (Operations) Ayan Chowdhury said the key to CoGro’s success over the years is its positive working environment.
“There’s a lot of emphasis on CoGro culture and keeping it a positive working environment when the work that you do is very challenging, especially if you’re new to the industry of hospitality,” Chowdhury said in an interview with The Journal.
The Brew is expected to open in January along with other retail stores in the JDUC, according to Nurzynski.
Tags
AMS, Common Ground Coffeehouse, JDUC revitalization, the Brew
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