Coffee Shop Boosts Sales in High School Caf

The Main Street Java coffee shop in Lake Travis (TX) High School’s cafeteria has been a big success and revenue generator, reports the Austin American-Statesman. Opened as part of a $2.9 million cafeteria renovation last September, Main Street generates $350 and $500 a day—about a sixth of the cafeteria’s total sales—selling a variety of specialty coffee drinks, organic teas and assorted baked goods. The shop includes a La Cimbali espresso machine, display cases and bar-height tables and stools, all implemented a cost of around $12,000, taken from the renovation budget.

Main Street is a concept developed by the district’s foodservice provider, Aramark, which has 14 other Main Street units in secondary school sites nationwide. The Lake Travis Main Street is manned by students from the school’s business academy and pays $8 to the academy's activity fund for every hour the students work.