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TechnographStarbucks, Potbelly coming to town
By Courtney Pischke
Posted: 2/1/05 Section: News
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In a school such as the University where a large majority of the student body is comprised of Chicago-area natives, the new Starbucks will attract customers such as Liz Snell, senior in FAA.
"I don't know if the city realizes how much they would profit from with a Starbucks in this town," said Snell, a native of Winnetka, Ill. "When I'm at home and I talk to people from other schools, I say 'Well, this is the last time I'll have a real Starbucks drink before I go back to Champaign' and people always look so shocked - no one understands that (the University) doesn't even have a single Starbucks."
The University is the last Big Ten school to get a Starbucks on campus. The students at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor now have four of the jazz-playing coffee shops. The students at Indiana University have two options for satisfying their caffeine cravings, one on the west end of campus and one on the eastern part of town. A second Starbucks was built last August near Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.
Next to the new Starbucks at the University, Potbelly Sandwich Works will open in early April, said Peter Nolan, director of marketing for Potbelly.
Most Potbelly restaurants are located in the Chicagoland area. However, after finding lucrative markets in other college towns across America, Nolan said the sandwich company is eager to come to Champaign to try for a similar result.
"Our price point and comfortable atmosphere attract college students," Nolan said. "The right location and foot traffic really drive our business."
Howard Schultz, the Starbucks chairman, is also on Potbelly's board of directors.
- Jonie Seo contributed to this article
"I don't know if the city realizes how much they would profit from with a Starbucks in this town," said Snell, a native of Winnetka, Ill. "When I'm at home and I talk to people from other schools, I say 'Well, this is the last time I'll have a real Starbucks drink before I go back to Champaign' and people always look so shocked - no one understands that (the University) doesn't even have a single Starbucks."
The University is the last Big Ten school to get a Starbucks on campus. The students at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor now have four of the jazz-playing coffee shops. The students at Indiana University have two options for satisfying their caffeine cravings, one on the west end of campus and one on the eastern part of town. A second Starbucks was built last August near Illinois State University in Normal, Ill.
Next to the new Starbucks at the University, Potbelly Sandwich Works will open in early April, said Peter Nolan, director of marketing for Potbelly.
Most Potbelly restaurants are located in the Chicagoland area. However, after finding lucrative markets in other college towns across America, Nolan said the sandwich company is eager to come to Champaign to try for a similar result.
"Our price point and comfortable atmosphere attract college students," Nolan said. "The right location and foot traffic really drive our business."
Howard Schultz, the Starbucks chairman, is also on Potbelly's board of directors.
- Jonie Seo contributed to this article
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