Aladdin Campus Dining to take over Mojo’s space, Bethel announces
Aladdin and Bethel have been partners for campus food services since 2012.
In an email sent to the Bethel community on Wednesday morning, Director for Institutional Communications and Marketing Tricia Clark announced that the school and Aladdin Campus Dining have entered into an agreement for the latter to serve as the next tenant of the popular Mojo’s space in Schultz Student Center.
Aladdin has served Bethel students as the official meal provider in the Caf since 2012. School leadership launched the search for a new tenant after the departure of Reverie Roasters.
Per the announcement, Aladdin will serve We Proudly Serve Starbucks and Island Oasis products. This includes espresso drinks, drip coffee, refreshers, frappuccinos, and Island Oasis smoothies.
The new coffee shop will be open and available to customers in the evening hours throughout the academic year.
“We are flattered by the response of the community members, artisans and coffee entrepreneurs who reached out to us with interest in occupying the space,” Bethel President Jon Gering said in the email. “The needs of our students were the first priority in choosing Aladdin for this expansion.”
Also in the email, plans for students to spend “flex dollars,” integrate the location’s menu into the student meal plan, and grant access to online ordering were mentioned.
“Large multinational businesses such as Aladdin and Starbucks open a pipeline of entry-level employment that other vendors cannot provide,” Gering said. “Also, Aladdin understands the financial realities of running a campus coffee shop.”
The financial realities that Gering alluded to were a driving factor of Reverie vacating the space.
“Aladdin has diversity, equity and inclusion built into their business model, along with responsible, ethical sourcing, and more environmentally sustainable production methods,” Gering added. The announcement also praises Aladdin’s track record of hiring student employees.
“Aladdin’s exceptional reputation and proven experience in increasing sales through brand consistency and service for both We Proudly Serve Starbucks [and] Aladdin’s signature coffee programs resonate with college and university decision-makers looking to enhance their college dining footprint,” Grace Hoyer, public relations manager for Aladdin, said.
“By selecting trending high-quality food and beverages affordable to students, Aladdin keeps students and faculty on campus, generating revenue for the college, which benefits the overall dining experience,” Hoyer added.
The coffee shop — which was originally the Bubbert’s snack shop operated by Patty Meier opened in 2010 — will reopen under a new name by Aug. 1.