Students who have enjoyed the convenience of purchasing a hot cup of Peet’s coffee or tea from the DVC Bookstore are going to have to rethink their plans if they’d like their hot drinks after 2 p.m.  

As of Monday, August 29, the café will close at 2 p.m. due to budget cuts. It is important to note that the 2 p.m. closing time only pertains to the hot drinks section of the café.

The drinks and snacks sold in the convenience store area of the bookstore (which is located in the same vicinity of the café) will still be available to students until 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until 3 p.m. on Fridays.  

“We really didn’t want to cut the hours in the hot drinks area of the bookstore,” says Bill Foster, DVC’s Bookstore Manager. “We appreciate the students and we want to serve all of their needs. Unfortunately, budget cuts meant that we had to make some tough decisions. Hot drinks account for roughly 15% to 20% of our business.”  

Students in need of a caffeine fix can still purchase cold Starbucks frappuccinos and mocha frappuccinos as well as a variety of Arizona Iced Teas in the convenience section of the bookstore.

This will come in especially handy for students taking night classes, who are often arriving at DVC after having worked an eight hour shift.  

DVC’s Bookstore convenience section also offers a variety of snacks – ranging from burritos, sushi, vegetarian and non-vegetarian sandwiches, salads, pastries, chips, energy drinks, sodas, and candy. They even offer organic and fair trade options. 

Students that have their hearts set upon drinking a hot caffeinated drink can still purchase Starbucks coffee and tea at the Basement Café (located on the bottom floor of the Margaret Lesher Student Union) Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Hot coffee and tea can also be purchased at the main cafeteria between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.  

Hour cuts are just one of the many ways that California’s budget cuts are affecting the lives of students, faculty members, and other employees at DVC.

Foster hopes that he will be able to reinstate the old hours again soon.