North Texas Daily

Matthew Brown / Intern Writer

While Starbucks has a stranglehold on the coffee market elsewhere, Minnesota-based Caribou Coffee has been spreading across America. When they learned UNT was opening a coffee shop, they decided to make another move on Texas.

The location is the focal point of Café GAB on the second floor of the General Academic Building. The GAB has some of the highest traffic on campus, with around 10,000 people passing through daily, according to Kim Schroeder, associate director of retail for dining services.

There are three other choices for coffee on campus; Starbucks in the Business Leadership Building, Peet’s Coffee in Wooten Hall and Maxwell House in the Food Pavilion.

“To cover the university, you need to have a variety of offerings,” Schroeder said.

The difference between Café GAB and other cafés on campus is the atmosphere Caribou facilitates.

“It’s way more laid back. It’s not very hectic here,” said Kearra Evans, a Caribou Coffee barista. “You can come get coffee and still enjoy studying.”

Student Alex Warren said the relaxed atmosphere and lack of a crowd is what drew him in.

“I think it’s more inviting,” he said. “I could actually get a seat. I think this might still be a kept secret.”

The coffee shop brews Caribou’s brand of coffee and sells a few of their menu items, as well as UNT menu items provided by Dining Services.

Caribou also runs in line with UNT’s approach to going green. Caribou recieved the Rainforest Alliance’s Green Globe Award for promoting sustainability in 2007.

Eight students are employed by dining services at Café GAB. A Caribou Coffee employee came to Texas to provide training before the café opened.

“They’re really great people to work with,” Schroeder said.