Construction is officially underway for a full-service Starbucks on the first floor of the Brown-Lupton University Union, marking an early step in the broader effort to upgrade campus dining.
According to Miles Oller, director of student affairs facilities, the project will be completed by late June and ready for students to enjoy when they return for the fall semester.
Unlike smaller or limited-menu locations, this full-service Starbucks will feature the complete menu of drinks and snacks made to order by trained baristas. Students will also be able to use their meal plans to make purchases, like at other retail dining locations on campus.
The decision to bring Starbucks to campus was driven by student feedback and years of preparation. A large-scale student survey conducted in 2021 revealed Starbucks as the top choice among students, influencing the decision to bring the brand to campus, said Kyle Hollingsworth, general manager for Sodexo at TCU.
“We wanted something that met students where they are, and for a lot of them, that meant Starbucks,” Hollingsworth said.
The Starbucks addition is part of a four-year plan aimed at enhancing the on-campus dining experience to what the team calls “national-class dining.”
“We already did things well, but we want to do them better,” Oller said. “The student experience at TCU is something special and we want to match that with our dining program.”
The launch of the Amazon Walk Out Store and the opening of Gutierrez Dining Hall are both key components of the larger campus dining expansion plan.
Gutierrez Dining Hall plays a strategic role by offering an additional dining resource when Market Square undergoes a seven-to eight-month renovation, set to begin in December 2025.
Along with Market Square renovations, Horned Frogs can look forward to future dining options opening in Smith Hall, a scratch-allergy-free kitchen and increased retail options across campus.
Students can stay up to date on dining news by following TCU Dining Services on Facebook and Instagram.
