Students can indulge in a chorizo breakfast wrap, focaccia panini, and more at Café Union opening in Goodes Hall on Aug. 28.
The café will offer food and drink options with ingredients sourced from local partners, farmers, and food producers such as White Buffalo, an Indigenous coffee bean provider that supports Indigenous farmers. Taking over the space where Starbucks used to be, Café Union will offer indoor and outdoor seating as well as to-go items.
“Café Union is a full-service barista-style café offering a diverse range of hot and cold espresso and , tea-based beverages, along with a selection of local, freshly made food items such as artisan sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, salads, and a variety of fresh made baked goods,” Jennifer Pete, director of business development and communications (housing and ancillary services), said in a statement to The Journal.
The ethos of Café Union centres around its collaboration with local partners, including Juniper Café, located in the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning, and Queen’s Bee Honey, an on-campus bee farm, Pete explained.
“The name of the café, Café Union, reflects the union of partnerships that the menu features,” Pete said.
The café accepts debit, credit, flex-dollars, or trade a-meals (TAMs). Student’s grabbing an apple cinnamon loaf or hot latte before class can order ahead on the Transact Mobile App.
Prices are “mindful of student budgets,” Pete explained. Sandwiches range from $5.99 to $14.89, salads, such as the blueberry, apple, and walnut, are $11.99, and baked goods like the raspberry chocolate loaf and allergy smart cookie, range from $2.85 to $6.50.
The menu at Café Union has options for students with dietary restrictions, Pete said. There will be vegan and vegetarian options, items with halal proteins, and salads excluding ingredients with gluten.
On the beverage side, students can expect a variety of drinks including house made refreshers and locally produced sodas from The County Bounty Artisanal Soda Co.
If students bring their own reusable cup for hot beverages or fountain drinks, they’ll save $0.35, reducing the University’s carbon footprint in the process. Café Union donates leftover food items to community partners in Kingston.
“Unused, untouched foods from our services are donated daily to local Kingston and Campus Community partners that are committed to addressing and mitigating food insecurity,” Pete said. “Together we strive to maintain sustainable and equitable services for our community.”
According to Pete, some former Starbucks employees will work at Café Union. Other workers have been relocated to different Starbucks locations.
At the end of August, Café Union will be open Monday to Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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