Cold Stone Creamery, a chain known for its sweet ice cream and broad selection of mix-ins, will move into the space previously occupied by Kaplan in CU’s University Memorial Center in November, the university announced.
Surveys of CU students and faculty last spring indicated a desire for ice cream. Tyler Romero, chair of the UMC Board, said “current popularity of ice cream-frozen yogurt in general” also played a role in the decision.
A banner located in the UMC lobby announces that Cold Stone Creamery is set to open shortly on campus. (Grayson Bender/CU Independent photo illustration)
Adrea Zelinko, assistant director for UMC administration, said in an email that Cold Stone will open around the same time as Panda Express. Last month, Panda Express was slotted to open mid-October, but Zelinko said Thursday that it will be ready for business in November.
Sophomore Emma Rush would have preferred a different addition to the UMC.
“Another type of business might have been better due to the fact that Cold Stone can only satisfy such a narrow market,” Rush said. “I think they should have looked into something that had a diversity of products to sell because the UMC is so limited already.”
The tight space in the UMC also played a factor in choosing Cold Stone. Most new occupants are forced to invest in the physical space in the UMC in order to run the business smoothly.
“Because of the relatively low cost to remodel that space in order to successfully run an ice cream business, Cold Stone became the top choice for this space,” Romero said.
Despite mixed reactions to the opening of Cold Stone, organizers said the addition of the two popular chain restaurants are sure to draw business to the UMC.
“We are excited for both of our new vendors to open in November,” Zelinko said.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Bria Burgamy at Bria.burgamy@colorado.edu.
