Students strive for coffeehouse atmosphere
Less than 100 steps away from a well-known coffee shop in downtown Greencastle is the newly opened Bagos Coffee Shop, which aims not to compete with the other cafe on the block, but to offer something entirely different, and to create a better sense of community in the process.
What began as a small bible study meeting, dubbed "Coffee and Christ," held each week in a residence hall soon evolved into a full fledged meeting of 30 or more people.
It was at this point that president Hope Jordan thought there might be some energy behind the weekly meetings and the idea for Bagos was born.
Located at 11. N. Indiana St., Bagos Coffee Shop is not a Latin or Spanish derivation but rather, just a funny way to mispronounce "bagel," according to Jordan.
The couch-filled atmosphere officially opened for business on Dec. 9, providing coffee and bagels with "suggested donation" prices.
The non-profit aims to provide a locale for studying, practicing instruments, live performances and a variety of events aimed at both students and non-students alike.
"We were very intentional in being a space on the square. There are a million places on campus we could have used, but we recognized a need in the community that we could bridge between DePauw and a great community, that's been missing to some extent" vice president Mo Bailey said.
"We want to be connected to this community."
Currently offered are a variety of drip coffees and bagels with the plan to expand into fancier beverages like lattes and cappuccinos in the future.
"Ultimately a fully operating coffee bar is what we want, including espresso machines for mocha, latte, cappuccino-type drinks, " Bailey explained.
"But those expenses are lofty and are going to be (happening) probably next semester."
Jordan and a special events coordinator have met with the Greencastle Arts Council and the DePauw Arts Council to help make alliances that could benefit Bagos as well as the councils.
While Bagos is in its beginning stages of becoming a brick-and-mortar hangout, its organizers are already planning to schedule events on certain nights of the week so that patrons will know, for example, which nights are for open-mic, which nights invite bible studies and which nights might provide live performances.
"Our goal is to have more of a finite schedule as we move forward," explained marketing director JJ Holtfreter.
The board of directors includes a president, vice president, marketing director, treasurer/legal aide, fundraising chair, secretary, a special events coordinator, two "floaters" performing a little bit of whatever needs to be done and a handful of volunteers on-hand to actually mind the store each evening.
Bagos Coffee Shop is located at 11 N. Indiana St. and is open daily from 7-10 p.m.
Persons interested in getting a cup of coffee, volunteering, making a donation or with general inquiries can visit the company's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/bagoscoffeeshop or contact president Hope Jordan by telephone at 574-248-1298.