Negotiations to bring a Starbucks to campus are accelerating and a contract signing is "imminent," administrators said Thursday.
"We're trying to finalize all the discussions now, and hopefully we'll be able to report on the successful completion very soon," said Kemel Dawkins, vice president of campus services.
The coffee shop will likely be located in the Bryan Center, adjacent to the West Campus Plaza-the current location of the Duke University Union and Black Student Alliance, inside the Office of Student Activities and Facilities.
"A Starbucks would provide a great study space, a meeting space and a place-to-be-seen space," said Jim Wulforst, director of dining services. "I personally think it would be a great fit for that location."
Administrators said they are targeting a Fall 2007 opening, although Starbucks would likely operate a cart on the Plaza in advance of the completion of the 1,300-sq. ft. store.
Wulforst was in New York Thursday to research possible layouts. Top executives from the Seattle-based chain were on campus Tuesday.
Others are less enthusiastic about the company-which owns nearly 7,000 shops worldwide-opening on campus.
Senior Malik Burnett, president of BSA, said he would not appreciate his organization being evicted from its historical location in OSAF.
"It doesn't seem like it would make sense for Starbucks to be in there if it's a place for student groups to do work," he said, adding that he felt the decision was made "at the expense of student groups."
Ensuring that the student organizations are given adequate replacement space is a major consideration, and other locations for Starbucks are still a possibility, Dawkins said.
"We want it to be easily accessible for the Plaza, and we would like it to contribute to the ambience of the entire area," Dawkins said.
Wulforst emphasized the stimulating effect that the coffee shop would have on the area compared to the space's current use.
"[Organizations] don't want to lose their presence in the Bryan Center, which I understand, but really what's there is a lot of old cubicles," he said, comparing the current atmosphere to a used car sale.
"I think there are ways to reconfigure that space and to make seating for Starbucks in just one space in the corner," Wulforst said. "That's where I want to be-whether or not we're going to get it is the question."
OSAF Director Chris Roby, who oversees much of the Bryan Center's operation, said he understands the need to balance his organization's priorities with those of the greater University.
"They wanted a storefront location and that was one of the options," Roby said.
Glass windows were recently installed in the space to allow more natural light, making it an ideal site.
"We'd be willing to entertain a Starbucks in the BC in the future," Roby added.
He suggested the West Union Building as another potential location, when the building is eventually renovated.
"I think any student union or center should have an anchor location," Roby said.
The other coffee shops on campus-Saladelia Cafe and Bella Union-have the most at risk if Starbucks sets up shop on campus. "The more vendors, the more they're going to share from the market that's there," said Robert Ghanem, manager of Saladelia's main location on University Drive. "It cannot bring in more people from outside."
At the main location there are two Starbucks nearby, but Saladelia's survives because of its superior service and local customer base, Ghanem said.
Wulforst said he is not highly concerned about the effect on other vendors.
"Every time we've introduced new concepts at Duke there haven't been any tremendous revenue shifts," he said.
Still, he said Starbucks could hurt existing coffee locations-although not as much as one might expect since Starbucks is a well known brand that markets to people who otherwise wouldn't buy a drink at all.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.