New coffee shop hopes to provide student-friendly setting

March 27 marked the grand opening for Pride Coffee, a new bistro located along Lee Street on the edge of campus.

Hans Bawary, former five-star chef and owner of Pride Coffee, is not new to the Commerce community having owned several restaurants in the area already.

"I used to own LuLu's Burgers and an Italian restaurant down on the square," Bawary said.

Bawary has lived in the Commerce area now for 17 years. It is the Commerce community, university and students that keep him here.

"I am doing this for the kids, the students," Bawary said. "They are my biggest supporters. I have a lot of regulars, like the soccer team."

According to Bawary, his regulars are loyal and trustworthy customers unlike anywhere else.

"The first day we did not have the credit card machine up and running, so I told them to come back to pay and every single one of them did," Bawary said.

Pride Coffee also has Wi-Fi catered for the students and boasts fresh fruit smoothies as well as other snacks.

"I made sure the Wi-Fi was the fastest because I knew it is what the kids need," Bawary said.

Students feel at home when visiting Pride Coffee, according to Bawary.

"They treat it like their own place," he said. "It isn't just anywhere, it's their place."

Many students feel like Pride Coffee has a homey feel unlike many places in Commerce.

"I love this place, it has a real home feel to it," student Brandon Akers said. "It's not a Sodexo type thing; it's different, has a sense of pride and quality to it."

Pride Coffee serves hot and cold coffee drinks, smoothies, desserts, bagels and sandwiches.