FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2019
Grand Opening: Aug. 19th
Where: NHC Ground Floor (West Entrance)
When: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tidbit: FREE Specialty Drinks from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
TSAILE, Ariz. — A new coffee shop is opening its doors at Diné College this Fall. Serving Starbucks coffee and a unique specialty menu, the new Warrior Coffee will be open for all to enjoy.
This Thursday, the newly appointed manager, Andrea Ground, is hosting a ‘soft opening’ for one day — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free specialty drinks will be served from 8 to 9 a.m. as a courtesy to new customers. And, the remaining menu will be open for those who want to purchase coffee and snacks.
Andrea Ground, a Montana native and a member of the Blackfeet Tribe, said the name (Warrior Coffee) matches the administrative and student clientele who’ll comprise the bulk of the customer base. In a survey sent out college-wide last May, Diné College Warriors were asked to vote on a name for the future coffee shop, and Warrior Coffee got the most votes.
Ground is a former owner and operator of Full of Beans, a coffee shop previously located not far from Diné College’s Tsaile campus. She is stepping into this new role, and is excited to introduce specialty items such as Navajo ice cream, made from butternut squash, and Navajo tea infused with peach and mango flavors.
“We’re excited to be opening the new coffee shop,” Ground said. “We’re ready to go with the soft opening. Everyone is welcomed and we hope to serve as many people as possible.”
The shop will employ three full-time baristas and three Diné College work-study students. Once fully up and running, Brown said menu items will include fruit cups, salads, wraps, and freshly-made baked goods. There won’t be any pre-packaged foods, Ground said.
“We want to offer healthy food options for our faculty, staff and students,” she said.
The GRAND OPENING is set for Aug. 19, which coincides with the first day of classes at the main campus. On that day, a band is scheduled to play and the newly hired baristas will be offering free drink samples for all who come out to support and enjoy the opening of the new coffee shop.
