A new perk joins Wyckham House
Acacia Carol, Layout Editor |
The mark of the fall semester starting is an influx of newness—new class schedules, new professors, and, in some cases, a new coffee house on campus, like West Gate Perks in Wyckham House.
At West Gate Perks, there’s also a big focus on affordability. So much so that it runs differently than what students might be used to.
Unlike other dining options on campus, the goal of West Gate Perks isn’t to make money. The cafe operates on a not-for-profit model, primarily aiming instead at making enough money to support its operations while keeping prices low.
How low exactly? Try a latte for $2.50.
Miranda Czaja, the operations manager at West Gate Perks, says that the low price doesn’t mean West Gate Perks is skipping out on quality either— the cafe’s coffee beans are directly imported from Columbia.
“We’re really focusing on having high-quality products that students love,” Czaja says. “What they expect from any other big brand coffee shop, but it’s student-focused prices.”
West Gate Perks gets a lot of its direction from what students want. Returning students might remember QR codes around Wyckham last winter semester that were asking for feedback. That survey was one of many ways that SAMRU wanted to focus students’ opinions on the new project.
According to Czaja, the name ‘West Gate Perks’ came from analyzing student feedback from over 350 responses to that QR code survey. Czaja also says she is “really excited” about the name coming from students, and she appreciates how “cute” the name is.
Running on the not-for-profit model also means opening with a smaller menu, Czaja explains. West Gate Perks currently offers all the standard coffee house drink favourites like drip coffee, espresso beverages and cold brew.
Continuing the commitment to operating with student feedback, there will be QR codes posted around the cafe so students can offer direct feedback about what is and isn’t working. Czaja wants to hear what students actually want, so West Gate Perks can make the biggest impact with their menu, she says.
Not a coffee person? Don’t worry, the cafe will also stock tea blends from Sarjesa, an MRU alumni-owned company which started as a student project in an Indigenous Studies course.
In addition to supporting alumni and providing an affordable option on campus, the cafe will also be primarily staffed by students. Czaja explains that it’s important to her that she is able to find a coffee house that has “super friendly” staff that genuinely care, and she wants to create a similar feeling at West Gate Perks.
“It’s a boost to my day, and it makes me just feel right. And that’s what we want students to feel, and we don’t want it to have a financial barrier,” she says.
