In May 2021, Northwestern College signed with the approval of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees a letter of intent to build and operate a Scooter’s Coffee kiosk on the southeast part of the campus along Highway 10. Scooter’s Coffee started in Bellevue, Nebraska in 1998. The goal is to open the kiosk sometime this fall.
“Northwestern is excited to be a part of this community growth opportunity with the franchisee,” President Greg Christy said. “This will be a great addition to the campus, benefiting both students and the community.”
President Christy is not the only one excited about this amazing opportunity. Gabel Brad from Brad’s Breads and Bakery agrees.
“Having Scooters in Orange City will be a benefit to the community because it brings the local residents more options, and it will add jobs for NW and local high school students,” Gabel said.
Students, too, are excited about having more options on campus, especially something that offers an easy grab-and-go and drive-through option. However, students expressed that nothing beats the community feel of TownSquare Coffeehouse and Brad’s Breads and Bakery.
“I am excited about Scooters coming to NW and having more on-the-go options,” Freshman Abigail Blok said. “I think it will be good for the town to have another option that is quick and easy. However, there is just something very genuine and very fitting to the town of Orange City that is a sit-down coffeeshop with warm fresh baked goods that give it that feeling of home and is community-based. That is what Orange City is about – community!”
The small businesses in Orange City are where a lot of students expressed that they made connections and formed amazing relationships. Freshman Alexandra Bryant, a new barista at Common Grounds Coffee Shop expresses how connected she feels already working in the Learning Commons.
“I am new to the job since I am a freshman, but it has been a great opportunity to meet new people especially upperclassmen,” Braynt said. “My O-staff leader, Faith, is my coworker, and she has allowed me to build amazing relationships with my other coworkers and those who come to the coffee shop.”
Another thing that was expressed by Maria Lopes, an international student at NWC and TownSquare regular, is how inclusive small businesses are. Maria expressed how grateful she is for TownSquare Coffeehouse allowing her to volunteer with the company and learn from them. She says that she appreciates how much TownSquare Coffeehouse cares about her and how personal they are with each person they serve.
In general, NW and Orange City care about forming relationships and building a sense of community. While a third coffee shop in a small town can seem aggressive, each individual business offers something special. Whether that be convenience, baked goods or inclusivity, students will find what they are looking for within a handful of blocks.
