(Butler, PA) Mia Marcarelli has up to two hours between classes. Cory Killian, 1½ hours, Richard Tutich one and Alora Lynch, just 10 minutes.

The students attending Butler County Community College’s main campus in Butler Township said they are excited that Vintage Coffeehouse will begin to sell specialty brews, breakfast sandwiches, paninis, pastries, protein balls, quiche and salads in the café on the upper floor of the Heaton Family Learning Commons on Nov. 3.

Peter and Angela Kupas, owners of the downtown Butler coffee shop, said they will start operations in the smaller of the college’s two cafes in fewer than two weeks and possibly in mid-January in the larger café in the Student Union -- which the college is refurbishing in a project unrelated to its recent search for its next food-service provider.

BC3’s trustees approved an agreement Oct. 15 that authorized Vintage Coffeehouse, 209 S. Main St., Butler, to succeed CRH Catering Co., Connellsville, to operate, manage and provide food services on the college’s main campus.

CRH operated under renewable annual contracts with BC3 for approximately 25 years. Before the most-recent agreement’s expiration in June, BC3 and Sodexo – which acquired CRH in November 2024 – did not execute a new contract, and the college formed a food service selection committee that distributed requests for proposals.

“I love new flavors of coffee”

Marcarelli, Killian, Tutich and Lynch said they have patronized mobile food vendors that have sold hot and cold items on BC3’s main campus since Aug. 25 while the college committee searched for a new vendor.

“We haven’t had the cafes open, so it will be exciting again to get coffee every day,” said Lynch, 19, of New Castle, an early childhood education (Pre K-4) student who studied briefly Tuesday in a booth near the café in the Heaton Family Learning Commons. “And I like to try new things. I love new flavors of coffee and supporting local businesses.

“This will be pretty beneficial, especially if I am running late and don’t have time to stop anywhere else. I can get it right here on campus.”

Kupas and his wife, Angela, opened Vintage Coffeehouse in May 2022. Kupas at age 46 graduated magna cum laude in BC3’s Class of 2023 with an associate degree in the college’s business management associate degree career program.

“Continue our great relationship with BC3”

Their business was one of two to respond to requests for proposals to become the food-service provider on BC3’s main campus by a Sept. 19 deadline. Trustees Oct. 15 authorized a motion from the board’s finance committee to select Vintage Coffeehouse.

“We want to be part of the community,” Kupas said. “That’s always been something that we have strived for since we opened Vintage. We just thought it was a great extension to continue our great relationship with BC3.”

Vintage Coffeehouse has also donated proceeds from sales to support the college’s Pioneer Pantry, hosted the college’s coffee and conversation admissions event in July and a Middle States Commission on Higher Education evaluation team in March as part of the college’s reaccreditation process.

It will contribute 1 percent of its annual profits to support the Pioneer Pantry and may also provide internships and employment opportunities to BC3 students, Kupas said.

“From the very beginning they have integrated themselves into the community, both supporting and taking the time to get to know the individuals they serve,” said Megan M. Coval, the college’s president. “We look forward to welcoming them to the BC3 community.”

The business will operate the café in the Heaton Family Learning Commons with two employees from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, Kupas said. Both cafes will be open to the public.

“Protein balls sound interesting”

Like Lynch, Killian has classes Monday through Friday.

“Sometimes I get hungry sitting in here, and I just have to wait it out,” Killian said while studying Tuesday near the café in the Heaton Family Learning Commons. “It will be awesome to have options. Protein balls sound interesting. Panini sounds interesting.”

Killian, Marcarelli and Tutich are residents of Mars. Killian, 19, is a general studies student; Marcarelli, 18, is enrolled in BC3’s health care science program and Tutich, 18, in business management.

“Definitely going to be more convenient for a lot of students because they won’t have to go off-campus,” Tutich said of Vintage Coffeehouse. “There are places on Route 8 that you can go, but the convenience of having this here on main campus will make it a lot easier.”

“Nice to have food close by”

Marcarelli said she drinks “a lot” of coffee and energy drinks.

“This will be great,” Marcarelli said. “And it will be nice to have food close by if you need a pre-study snack or a mid-study snack. It will be right here.”

Angela Kupas said it is possible some Vintage Coffeehouse patrons will opt to visit the cafés on BC3’s main campus instead of the coffee shop in Butler.

“Finding a place to park downtown is sometimes difficult, sometimes stressful for some,” Angela Kupas said. “Even in the conversations we have had in the past couple of days, people are excited because BC3 might be closer for them from where they live.”

The agreement between the college and Vintage Coffeehouse took effect Oct. 15. It includes two one-year renewable options after the original contract ends May 31, 2029.

Vintage Coffeehouse will sell items made by Nosh & Nest, Butler, and Batch, Saxonburg, Kupas said.

The college’s trustees Oct. 15 also approved contracts for new flooring and furniture in the café in the Student Union, located on the lower level of Founders Hall.

Vintage Coffeehouse was named small business of the year in 2024 by Butler Downtown.