Johann Sebastian Bach once said, “Without my morning coffee I’m just like a dried up piece of roast goat.” Some people just can’t function without coffee. When the Starbucks in Albert Lea closed in 2008, that was the end of expensive gourmet coffee for the town.
Until now, that is. A kiosk for Caribou Coffee has been built in Hy-Vee. Senior Anthony Tate, an employee of Hy-Vee, tells us the Caribou Coffee is set to open on April 11.
The construction of this kiosk is causing a few changes to Hy-Vee. Hy-Vee will redesign its food lineup. They’ll also be renovating the floors and walls in the cafeteria area.
“The construction [of the kiosk] was loud, but now that it’s over, it’s starting to look really nice,” Tate said.
The addition of this Caribou Coffee will generate eight to ten jobs, including one full-time department manager. Caribou Coffee is currently taking applications for baristas. Hy-Vee is excited for the business the kiosk will cause.
“I drink coffee like it’s my job,” said coffee enthusiast Dusty Blankenship, a senior. “I’ll probably hit up Caribou every day before school,”
Many students were excited to hear that Caribou Coffee has come to Albert Lea’s Hy-Vee.
“It’ll be nice to have a place to drink coffee,” said senior Ashley Petersen. “Ever since Starbucks left, there hasn’t been a place to do that.”
Hy-Vee employees expect the kiosk to bring in high school students and people under the age of 30.
“It will definitely bring in the younger crowd,” said an employee of Hy-Vee, senior Emily Caron.
With the younger generation drinking at Caribou Coffee, this may cause some unrest among the older generations. Senior citizens and the like may become disgruntled at the change of atmosphere and crowd.
“The older folks might be agitated by the costs and amount of time it takes to make the coffee,” Caron said.”
The kiosk will include Caribou Coffee’s full line. Their full line includes iced coffees, espressos, fruit smoothies, teas, lattes and more.