Senior Andy Kay hopes the East Campus Coffeehouse will keep its offbeat feel while it goes through serious renovations to its physical appearance. Control of the once-popular venue for live, alternative music was awarded to the Duke University Union this fall. Kay, chair of the East Campus Coffeehouse Committee, will be the first Union representative to lead the Coffeehouse.
“Andy will make sure that we maintain the good of the old while making meaningful changes to the Coffeehouse,” said senior Kevin Parker, president of the Union. “He’s got some experience with programming, which we think is really important. In addition, he also cares about the space.”
The first item on Kay’s agenda for maintaining and improving the Coffeehouse, located in the Crowell Building behind the Marketplace, will be much-needed repairs to the facility itself. Kay said he plans to refurbish the sound system and replace the harsh fluorescent lights with more hospitable lighting. Furthermore, he hopes to add a large video projection screen and bring the bathrooms into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act by making them wheelchair-accessible.
Due to these urgent physical changes, Kay said he cannot plan far ahead into the future.
Kay said the Coffeehouse’s programming will be similar to events planned in years past, consisting of music, poetry readings and a variety of other types of entertainment.
“We want it to be a vibrant social option for the alternative as well as the general community,” Kay said. “It will be open to all, but we will make sure it’s appealing to the alternative community.”
Parker said the Coffeehouse would be an attractive venue for student and local bands and performers, comparing it to the Armadillo Grill on West Campus.
“One of the best things about the Coffeehouse is that it provided a great venue for local bands,” Kay said.
Although the Coffeehouse has traditionally been a venue for student acts and local groups, Kay said that with the additional funds provided by the Union—tentatively estimated at $15,000 per semester—he might be able to attract bigger names without compromising its alternative feel.
“Since we have access to additional funding, we’ll try to get some bands with more recognition on the national level,” Kay said. “Still, I don’t think you’ll see any generic acts in there.”
Parker said the Coffeehouse’s location is one of its main selling points, especially on a campus with so few social outlets.
“First and foremost, [the benefit] is that it is a social space on East Campus,” Parker said. “It’s important for freshmen to have that.”
Control of the Coffeehouse was transferred from its student managers to the Union this fall after the Office of Student Activities and Facilities received complaints last spring about the venue’s management, OSAF Director Gregg Heinselman said.
Many of the Coffeehouse’s previous operators said they were angry about the switch, but Kay said he hopes to maintain the best aspects of the Coffeehouse.
Under Kay’s direction, the first event at the Coffeehouse with be a benefit concert for WXDU Nov. 20. Kay said the Coffeehouse will have a more regular schedule in the upcoming spring semester.
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