Starbucks to replace Fine Arts food stand

Mike Sholars
Editor-in-Chief
As of September 12, the Michaelangelo’s food stand located in the Fine Arts Building will reopen as a Starbucks.
The stand closed for good at the end of April, marking the end of a business that had operated in that same location for over 20 years.

Anthony Barbisan, director of food services, says the decision was based on the results of surveys conducted over the past two years to gauge student interest for new food opportunities on campus.
Although the Fine Arts location is under new ownership, the main Michaelangelo’s cafeteria in the basement of Atkinson is still going strong.
Atillio Perrone, who has co-owned both locations with business partner Miguel Arce since 1999, says he was surprised to receive the closure notice late last April. He says he was under the impression the location was on track for a contract extension and possible renovations.
Due to significantly lower amounts of foot traffic, the Michaelangelo’s Fine Arts stand usually shuts down every summer.
“All of a sudden, they said ‘the Dean wants the Starbucks there, and that’s all there is to it,’” Perrone says. He cites a string of possible reasons for the delays, such as the 2008 strike. “They’ve been putting off my contract renewal for three years.”
Barbisan confirms Perrone and Arce were notified late April. He notes such a time frame is standard for establishments that close during the summer.
Petal Foods, the corporation that oversees Michaelangelo’s, will remain in their Atkinson location until the end of the 2011–2012 school year, confirms Barbisan. At that point, “an open proposal bidding for the location” will take place, he says.
“We’ll be consulting with the community [on this matter],” says Barbisan on the process of potentially choosing a replacement establishment for the location.
He says that, alongside everyone else, Arce and Perrone would be welcome to bid for the new contract for the Atkinson space.
Now with just one property to concentrate on, Perrone and Arce are exploring new ways to bring business to their Atkinson location. Perrone discussed plans from hosting Frosh Week events to hosting dances and pub nights.
They are optimistic that they are offering something hard to come by on campus: real Italian food.
“Where else can you get that?” asks Perrone. “We feel that we’ve been treated unfairly. It’s like we’ve had our legs taken out from under us.”