Spring Break
Java Beanery & Bakery gets 'coffee shop' look
Old furniture replaced with new tables and chairs
Bridget Pearson/ Staff Reporter
Issue date: 10/28/08 Section: News
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New tables and chairs have replaced the old furniture, giving the area a more "coffee shop" appeal.
Antonia Jackson, an employee at Java B & B, said the new furniture was a much-needed change and has given the vicinity a more modern and chic look.
"I love it. A lot of us behind the counter have made suggestions for new furniture, but we didn't envision it would be quite to this magnitude," she said. "We're very happy with how it turned out."
Jackson added the change has influenced Java B & B's business, with an increase in sales because of more people using the area to meet with friends and colleagues.
"We have more people sitting down at the tables now and after you sit for awhile, you're going to get a drink," she said. "You're going to study here. You're going to bring other people here, and they're going to get drinks, too."
Jackson said people love the taller chairs because it creates a closer atmosphere and there are also more tables than there used to be, which gives more students an opportunity to gather.
Many faculty members use the space to get together in the morning to carry out faculty meetings, and it has become common to find students with laptops doing homework there.
Nikki Oboikovitz, a senior education major, said she frequently goes to Java B & B and that the updated look of the furniture was a great change and has made the atmosphere more comfortable.
"I think its great," she said. "I don't know that it was absolutely necessary, but I think overall it looks really nice."
Sam Barlock, a senior corporate communications major, said the new furniture was a positive change to the area.
"I think it's cool that they're changing up the scene a little," he said. "The higher tables and chairs are definitely trendier."
Another change students might notice is the increased space behind the counter.
"We got three or four more inches of counter space, but we gained about five feet of walking space to kind of maneuver through," Jackson said.
This change has allowed for an additional employee to be put behind the counter, so now there are three people working instead of two.
Amanda Swinda, who has been working at Java B & B since the start of the semester, said the increased space has really made a difference in job performance.
"It used to be way too cluttered back here," she said. "We used to run into each other all the time, but now it's a lot better."
The increased space has also allowed for the shop to purchase a second register, which will be coming within the next few weeks.
The extra worker and register will speed up the process and allow employees to help customers more quickly and efficiently.
A new refrigerator and freezer was the last change made to the Java B & B.
The new refrigerator has allowed for more products to be stored so that employees are not running out of products as frequently.
It has also allowed them to offer more food items. Fruit cups have been one addition to the menu, and different options will be coming in the future.
"We'll be having different products that we will be sampling and testing out just to gauge the reaction," Jackson said.
Bridget Pearson can be reached at 581-7942 or at dennewsdesk@eiu.edu.
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