A new café at Saint Xavier University is giving students another place to grab a coffee, pick up a meal or spend time with friends.
Mercy Café officially opened Sept. 23 in Morris Hall at Saint Xavier University, 3700 W. 103rd St., Chicago.
“We love that the name is distinctly Saint Xavier and reinforces the idea that the café is about more than coffee,” said Katy Thompson, vice president for Student Life. “It is a place to gather, a place to connect, and a place where everyone belongs.”
The café has been part of Morris Hall since 2001, but the space has gone through several different concepts over the years. The latest changes came after the university decided to bring the café under Saint Xavier’s management while continuing its partnership with Country House Kitchens, the university’s dining provider.
Country House Kitchens developed the food preparation and serving areas and menu offerings, while the university’s Facilities team worked with a contractor on the renovations and final design.
University Relations also helped develop the look of the café, including a photo feature highlighting the history and heritage of Saint Xavier.
The decision to move away from the previous Starbucks arrangement gave the university more flexibility in choosing what to offer students and how the space would represent the university.
The name Mercy Café was chosen to connect the space with Saint Xavier’s Mercy tradition and Catherine McAuley’s tradition of hospitality.
Deb Rapacz, vice president of Marketing, Communication and Planning, said the goal was to create a space that felt connected to the university rather than simply being another campus coffee shop.
The café offers a variety of grab-and-go food and beverages designed for students who are moving between classes, residence halls and other activities throughout the day.
“What we like most is that the change brings mission and student needs together,” Thompson and Rapacz said.
The new café was also shaped by student input.
Student Government Association and Residence Hall Association leaders spent much of the previous semester working with Country House Kitchens staff to select a coffee brand. Students took part in taste tests and discussions about the types of food and beverages they wanted to see in the café.
Thompson said the process gave students an opportunity to have a direct role in the new concept.
“It was an excellent collaborative effort and it was exciting for students to experience the result of their work,” she said. “I was proud to be able to work alongside a dedicated team of students and staff who had a similar goal — to deliver excellent service and quality to our community.”
The university also renamed the former Coffee Cats location Mercy Café Express, creating a connection between the two café locations on campus.
The Sept. 23 grand opening was held in conjunction with the university’s annual Mercy Day celebration. This year also marked 180 years to the date that the Sisters of Mercy arrived in Chicago.
A Student Government Association representative introduced the new café before cutting the ribbon alongside Saint Xavier University President Dr. Keith Elder.
Those attending the ceremony were able to try specialty drinks created for the opening, including the “Sweet Mercy,” a citrus iced tea refresher, and the “Kitty Macciato,” a hot salted caramel latte named for Catherine McAuley.
Mercy Café is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 10 p.m. It is closed Saturdays.
