Opening and operating a small coffee shop in Texas requires adherence to various codes and standards to ensure safety, legality, and quality service. Students get a front row view of the competing requirements of safety and economy even before the cafe atmospheric and economic viability make their passion a going concern.
1. Business Licenses and Permits:
Business License: Obtain a general business license from your local city or county authority. Requirements and fees vary by location.
Certificate of Occupancy: This certifies that your building complies with zoning laws and is safe for occupancy. It’s typically issued after necessary inspections.
Food Handler’s License: All employees involved in food preparation or service must obtain this certification within 60 days of employment.
Seller’s Permit: Required for businesses selling tangible goods subject to sales tax. You can register for this permit through the Texas Comptroller’s Office.
2. Health and Safety Regulations:
Texas Food Establishment Rules: These rules outline standards for food safety, including employee hygiene, equipment sanitation, and food handling procedures.
County and City Health Department Regulations
Featured Texas Coffee School Coffeepreneur®: @TheHiveJavaLounge #WomensHistoryMonth Zoraida Dobard was an educator with no prior experience in the coffee industry. She decided to follow her passion and create a space that resonated with her. pic.twitter.com/t5xBs1Assh
Building Codes: Ensure compliance with local building codes, which cover structural integrity, electrical systems, plumbing, and fire safety.
Zoning Regulations: Verify that your chosen location is zoned appropriately for a food establishment.
Accessibility Standards: Adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements to ensure your facility is accessible to all patrons.
4. Additional Considerations:
Signage Permits: Obtain permits for exterior signs, as many municipalities have regulations governing signage size, lighting, and placement.
Waste Disposal: Comply with local ordinances regarding waste management, including grease disposal and recycling.
Insurance: While not a code or standard, securing appropriate insurance (e.g., general liability, property, and workers’ compensation) is crucial for protecting your business.
There’s enough “content” in the foregoing list of considerations to meet the requirement for an Associates Degree at any community college.
Starting and running a privately held coffee shop within a building located in the campus proper — think the franchise chains like Starbucks — is another layer of complexity in our session on Joint Use Agreements.
During Women’s History Month, we want to celebrate our female Coffeepreneurs®! Danika Young is the owner of Creative Bean Coffee, a family-oriented coffee shop in Rapid City, South Dakota. She opened her coffee business in June 2022, first from a mobile trailer for events. pic.twitter.com/6ckYJvSeqW
The Temple of Zeus is a popular café located in the Groos Family Atrium of Klarman Hall at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Established in 1964, it began as a modest coffee and donut operation in a basement storage room in Goldwin Smith Hall, designed as a neutral space for students and faculty to meet. The café’s name comes from plaster casts of statues from the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, purchased by Andrew Dickson White in 1881, some of which still decorate the Arts & Sciences Career Development Center and Klarman Hall atrium.
Since moving to Klarman Hall in 2016, the café has grown significantly, serving nearly 900 customers daily. It offers a menu focused on healthy, locally sourced food, including creative soups (like Choklay’s Lentil, Tomato Garlic, and Curried Cauliflower), made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and baked goods. Beverages include locally roasted Copper Horse Coffee and Gimme Coffee, with a discount for bringing your own mug. The café is known for its vegetarian and vegan options, yogurt from Ithaca Milk, and seasonal fruit from local growers.
The current space is bright and spacious with 170 seats, a stark contrast to its original dingy basement setting with recycled Navy ROTC furniture. It’s a vibrant hub for students and faculty, fostering a communal atmosphere. The café employs four full-time staff, two student managers, and 50 student workers, and is managed by Keith Mercovich, who emphasizes high-quality, healthy food. It operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and is closed on weekends.
Historically, it was a gathering spot for notable faculty like Archie Ammons and Roald Hoffmann, and it remains a cherished part of Cornell’s campus culture, with a 2017 petition ensuring its name remained unchanged despite rumors of a potential rename. The café also faced a temporary closure in 2020 but reopened with a simplified menu focusing on classics like soups and scones.
For these two Cornellians, sustainable travel is in the “bag.”
Married couple Quinn Cox ’’5 and Lilia Karimi ;15 pioneered a simple — but ingenious — way for hotel guests to donate unwanted items
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Aarhus University was founded in 1928 and is the second oldest university in Denmark. It has a total enrollment of approximately 39,000 students and employed around 9,000 faculty members and staff. During the summer its doors are open to everyone on earth.
Chapman University’s 90-acre campus in Orange, California, blends historic charm with modern innovation, reflecting a design philosophy of accessibility, beauty, and community. The campus, set in the historic Old Towne Orange district, features a mix of Classical Revival and contemporary architecture. Key historic buildings, originally part of Orange Union High School, include Wilkinson Hall (1905), Reeves Hall (1913), Smith Hall (1913), and Memorial Hall (1921), all listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These structures, designed by architects like C.B. Bradshaw and Frederick Eley, showcase symmetry and classical elements, with Memorial Hall’s 1,000-seat auditorium being a standout.
The Keck Center for Science and Engineering (2018), inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, spans 140,000 square feet with 45 labs and an outdoor amphitheater. The Sandi Simon Center for Dance (2023) and Musco Center for the Arts (2016), with acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota, have earned architectural awards. Doti Hall (2013) integrates seamlessly with historic structures around Bert Williams Mall, enhancing the campus’s cohesive aesthetic.
Infrastructure supports a vibrant student life, with 175+ student organizations and a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The campus offers 24-hour security, modern dorms, and dining facilities, though weekend dining hours draw some criticism. Recent expansions, like the Fowler School of Engineering’s Swenson Family Hall, and planned updates to the Specific Plan, including increased enrollment and housing, ensure Chapman remains a dynamic, student-focused environment
New update alert! The 2022 update to the Trademark Assignment Dataset is now available online. Find 1.29 million trademark assignments, involving 2.28 million unique trademark properties issued by the USPTO between March 1952 and January 2023: https://t.co/njrDAbSpwBpic.twitter.com/GkAXrHoQ9T
