Written by Eli Dean // Photo by Macy Cox
Coffee lovers across Harding’s campus had a new place to get their daily cup during the week of snow and university closures, with the help of a few creative students with a bright and fresh idea.
Greenhouse Coffee & Bakery opened for business Jan. 16, the first day classes were canceled due to the icy campus conditions. Co-owner and senior Gracie Hamlett said the idea came from a video she saw online this past summer with a similar concept, and she wanted to do something similar with her roommates, senior Regan McClure and junior Kennedy Williamson, in their apartment this winter.
“I sent [the video] to my roommates, Regan and Kennedy, telling them we had to do this,” Hamlett said. “We’ve done things like this in the past so we are always looking for what to do next. When snow week began, I knew that this was the perfect time.”
The snow began to fall during the beginning hours of Sunday, Jan. 14, and it lasted until Monday night. Many took the first opportunity of the year to play in the snow, but by Tuesday, some of that excitement had died down. That was when Hamlett and her roommates decided to do something fun during their unexpected day off.
“The snowfall day is magical,” Hamlett said. “The first full day of snow is the day you go out and play or just stay warm inside, resting. The second full day of snow is when people start to get restless. So that’s the day we decided to do it.”
Regan McClure, who helped make Hamlett’s vision a reality, said that it was all about having a fun place to be with close friends during a day where most would want to stay inside their dorms or apartments.
“We wanted to see our friends during the snow and also give people something to do outside of their rooms,” McClure said. “Something silly is that we had one of our bedrooms set up as a coat room to have enough room. It was so much fun.”
Those who ventured out of their dorms for a free cup of coffee were met with a warm welcome as they arrived at the door. Sophomore Macey Stewart said the environment was welcoming and a fun place to spend a chilly day inside.
“Visiting Greenhouse Coffee Shop was definitely the highlight of my snow day,” Stewart said. “Everything about the experience was so inviting and joyful, from the way they took my coat at the door, to the delicious coffee and treats, to the lively conversations with all the friends who came to visit.”
