New Commons Cafe opens following cafe closures in previous years

A new cafe has opened in the Environmental Studies and School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) Complex. Commons Cafe is located next to the Commons Library, and opened to students, faculty, staff, and the public at the start of the academic year and is open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.

The cafe’s opening follows multiple cafe closures around campus in the previous two years, including the Chancellor Green Cafe housed in East Pyne Hall and the Meadows Cafe, located inside the Meadows Apartments graduate housing complex.

These closures “were the result of low patronage and an effort to reallocate resources to best support the dining needs of campus,” University spokesperson Ahmad Rizvi wrote in a statement to The Daily Princetonian. Commons Cafe, on the other hand, was a product of “the evolving needs of the Princeton community,” he explained.

“As new academic and research facilities were developed, the University identified an opportunity to integrate dining and a gathering space that supports the daily needs of students, faculty, staff, and visitors in that area,” Rizvi wrote.

“I like the vibe, the environment,” cafe employee Loretta Nj said in an interview with the ‘Prince.’ “It’s pretty new for me, but as I know, this is a good environment [for students] to study and focus on the project or whatever you need to do.”

Nj noted that it’s difficult for students to get food anywhere else in the area, making the spot ideal for those who have classes near Briger Hall. 

“The long-term success of [Commons Cafe] will be measured not only by its ability to meet dining needs, but also by the role it plays in fostering community,” Rizvi stated. 

“Last year, [there was] a coffee machine that I don’t know … ever worked, and a couple of vending machines with microwaved food,” Ethan Gotthold ’29 told the ‘Prince.’ “I was excited to see that there was an actual cafe.” 

In addition to traditional packaged snacks, the Commons Cafe offers items from local businesses, including ready-made hot meals from Olives, a Princeton-based Mediterranean deli, and pastries from The Gingered Peach, a bakery located in Lawrenceville. Caffeinated drinks are brewed with coffee beans from Small World Coffee. 

Commons Cafe has been open for less than a week and does not appear to have drawn many customers yet. A ‘Prince’ reporter, upon visiting the cafe at 11:30 a.m. on a weekday, noted that only one student had purchased an item from the cafe.

The cafe accepts payments via credit cards, Paw Points, Student Charge, and TowerCards (a departmental charge card). Its menu features beverages ranging from $3.50 to $7.50, as well as grab-and-go goods such as fruits, chips and sushi.

Currently, the University has no plans to open additional cafes, according to Rizvi.

Hifza Kaleem is a News contributor for the ‘Prince’ and a member of the Class of 2030. 

Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.