A strong coffee aroma filled the main level of Buchanan Hall on Monday night as the new coffee shop, the Barista Cafe, opened for the first time.

The two-hour grand opening event began at 4 p.m. and included guests such as ISU President Gregory Geoffroy, Vice President of Student Affairs Thomas Hill and other professionals involved in the process.

Megan Todd, CEO of Barista and senior in marketing was impressed by the turnout and made sure to mingle with all the guests. Since some of Iowa State’s highest-ranking figures were in attendance, “It’s good to bump elbows,” Todd said.

The event was held to celebrate the accomplishments and hard work everyone put into the cafe and to thank everyone for their donations.

However, despite the smiles that filled Buchanan Hall last night, this grand opening didn’t come easily. With 12 co-owners, there was still plenty to do before the doors could open and the cart pushed out.

“I did a lot of the construction on the cafe itself,” said Scott Rodenburg, shareholder, secretary of the board of directors and sophomore in pre-business.

Rodenburg also stressed how important the little things were in creating the final look and feel of the cafe.

“[There was] a lot of odds and ends stuff – a little bit of everything,” he said. “A lot of the painting on the walls and stuff like that.”

But beside making sure the cart was finished and the walls painted, Barista workers also had to make sure all the products were ordered and ready to go. Carrying ISU Dining baked goods, it is their responsibility to make sure the goods get to the cafe everyday.

“I’m in charge of getting the food here,” said Justin Bailey, director of operations and sophomore in construction engineering.

However, Barista will carry more than just ISU Dining baked goods – students can also get their chocolate fix with a candy bar.

“We have snack items here and things we got through vendors,” Bailey said.

So with plenty of goodies and warm coffee to offer, students living in Buchanan seem anxious about the cafe finally opening – especially the coffee drinkers.

“It’ll be good because I’m a big coffee drinker,” said Phillip Monohon, junior in pre-business. It’s been a really long process and its good that after two years it’s finally open, he said.

Other students who live in Buchanan are excited about the convenience of the cafe.

“It’ll be a lot easier just as I’m walking out the door,” said Trevor Lankford, senior in management information systems and a community adviser in the building.

Jeremy Burdt, sophomore in psychology, agreed with Lankford.

“I’m excited because I don’t have to go out of my way to the Memorial Union to get coffee,” Burdt said.