Wichita, Kan. – Scooter’s Coffeehouse is going back to school beginning next month. Newman University announced last week that the coffeehouse franchise will set up shop in Newman’s Marketplace located inside the Dugan Library and Campus Center. The Marketplace houses the university bookstore and a small dining venue.
Tolli Rasmussen, owner of Beyond Napa Private Cellars and a Scooter’s Coffeehouse franchise in El Dorado, will manage the new location, which is set to officially open on Monday, Nov. 9. Along with Scooter’s drinks and food items, Pizza Hut pizza-by-the-slice and the NuWay crumbly burger will also be available.
Mark Dresselhaus, vice president for finance and administration, worked with Rasmussen to get plans arranged. “We wanted to enhance the atmosphere and the offerings for our students,” said Dresselhaus. “And, we believe Tolli will do that. We’re excited about the energy, creativity and service she’ll bring to Newman’s campus.”
Great Western Dining, the university’s cafeteria food provider, has operated the space known as the Marketplace Café since the building opened in 2007. The arrangement was known to be a temporary one. Dresselhaus said this change will allow Great Western to return their focus to servicing the cafeteria and catering needs of Newman.
“I’m thrilled to be partnering with Newman University,” said Rasmussen. “I think this will be a lot of fun and I really want this to be Newman’s Scooter’s. If we need to do things a little differently on campus than we would in our other locations, then we will. I plan to hire Newman students to help staff the shop and I’m thrilled with the interest they’ve showed so far.”
Rasmussen said she also plans to change the seating configurations by adding some sofas and televisions to the space.
“I also hope to schedule live music performances in the shop,” Rasmussen said. “I think if we make some simple, subtle changes and open up the traffic flow it should really work well for the students.”
Scooter’s offers a full array of blended coffees, teas, specialty drinks and food items. Operating hours will also be expanded to serve night and weekend students. The café’ will close Nov. 5 to prepare for the transition to Scooter’s on Nov. 9. An open house celebration is set for sometime in November, the actual date has not yet been set.
