Northern Lights Cafe Introduces New Features Following the New School Year

As the colder weather approaches and the school year gets harder, students turn to warm, and sometimes caffeinated, drinks to help them get through. Northern Lights, the student run cafe located in the library, helps students with that by serving a variety of drinks.

The cafe first opened in September of 2016 due to a new initiative of school-based enterprises. The Marketing class surveyed teachers and students about the business venture and decided to give it a try.

“It means that business students get a chance to run a business, but it’s within their own schools and that’s why it’s called school-based enterprises,” said librarian Eve Diel.

Despite last year’s success, Northern Lights opened later than expected this year, on Oct. 26.

“I split my time between North High and South High. Being here only on A days slowed the process down. We also wanted to take time to evaluate last year’s business, conduct some market research, and develop a ‘go to market’ plan before opening up the cafe to students,” said teacher Laura Strickland.

One of the ideas the cafe is running through administration is whether or not food will be incorporated into the menu. Nutrition guidelines as well as the new food allergy policy need to be considered.

“Right now I am talking to someone on the board of Parkway that deals with the nutrition guide and so right now they are looking at the suggestions we have given them and making sure they fall under the guidelines. If so then we can start selling them at the cafe,” said senior Nick Austin.

With the proposal of the incorporation of food getting closer to success, there comes other restrictions to follow.

“I would ask that if [students] were to eat up here then it just be stuff they purchase from the coffee shop or just small snacks that kids individually bring from home, but not a whole big lunch tray full of nachos and pizza that’s going to be smelly,” said Diel.

Food is not the only new feature that people will see being implemented.

“[We are getting] some more flavors of tea such as […] peach tea and raspberry tea,” said Austin.

Due to all the new amenities being added to the cafe, this year’s success rate is predicted to surpass that of last year’s profits. All profits go to North area families that need help with paying for bills, groceries, etc.

“We are hoping this year that we do a lot better than last year due to the new drinks we have that the students want. So far, students are impressed with the drinks we make for them,” said Austin.

This semester, the cafe is open on A days during all lunches in the library, but next semester it will be opened on both A and B days. Northern Lights staff are also looking into opening in the mornings.

By Sara Hong, staff writer