Since taking over the Sam Steel Café in Gerald Thomas Hall, Kelley Coffeen has led a team from New Mexico State University’s Department of Family and Consumer Sciences in developing a retail concept tailored to students’ tastes and budgets.
After months of working with FCS staff and students from her buying class, Coffeen has landed on what she believes is a bankable model. She gave the space a new name, ACES Coffee and Gifts, introduced a streamlined food and drink menu of affordable options, and added a few extra touches to keep customers coming back.
It sells cups of coffee, customizable espresso drinks, smoothies, specialty teas, and baked goods like green chile biscuits, croissants and cookies—all made by a student baking team.
PHOTO: Manager Destyni Martinez was part of a five-member student team who ran ACES Coffee and Gifts, located inside Gerald Thomas Hall on the New Mexico State University campus. (NMSU photo by Josh Bachman)
