Denise Watt

Changes on Campus

Brookings’ Sixth Street isn’t the only thing that has changed during the summer. While campus may seem sleepy during summertime, changes continue to happen even as students return to class.

The following are some of the changes campus has faced, and some it will face in the future, according to Dean Kattelmann, director of the Physical Plant.

SDSU students and faculty will have a new parking option thanks to the removal of the Chi Omega house and Teacher Learning Center south of Harding Hall. Kattelmann estimated the lot, slated to be for FE and SC classes will provide 50 or more new parking spots.

Work continues on a multi-million dollar electrical update on campus. Kattelmann said a few evening power outages have been scheduled, but the outages shouldn’t affect residential areas on campus.

The Wecota basement has undergone some renovation, Kattelmann said. In addition, the Information Technology Support Desk has moved to the Administration Building Room 102.

The Honors College, diversity office and testing center have moved into the old SDSU Foundation building, located on Medary Avenue across from the Campanile.

Renovations to classrooms included white board installations.

“It’s one of our goals to get all the chalkboards off,” he said.

Work in residential halls included completion of a roof project for Mathews Hall, and refurbished and air-conditioned classrooms in the Hansen Hall basement.

A new scoreboard is planned for the swimming pool, Kattelmann said. The new softball field will begin use this year, and a new disc golf course has been installed near the intramural fields. See page B3 for more information on the course.

Look for changes to continue on campus. Kattelmann said ongoing projects total $53 million. Some changes include:

? The Wellness Center, scheduled to enter the bidding process in February.

? The equestrian center, scheduled to be completed in November 2007.

? A proposed science center, which will include replacement of the pharmacy building and removal of the old Shepard building. While the project has been approved, funding issues continue to be worked out, Kattelmann said.

? The former Methodist Center located on Eighth Street will undergo a $1 million renovation to become the Wintrode Student Success Center.

Cottonwood Cafe Opens

Getting a good cup of coffee can be a challenge-one that Jacob Limmer knows well.

When he accepted a job at a non-profit organization in Brookings, Limmer, a coffee-drinker, said, “I just wasn’t finding what I was looking for.”

What he found was a business opportunity.

Limmer works as co-owner of Cottonwood Coffee, located at 509 Main Ave. Cottonwood opened July 5, but planning for the business began early last year, Limmer said. Renovation of the shop’s building, a former Easter Seals building across from the post office, took about five months.

“It was a really big project and we did most of the work ourselves,” he said.

The shop features wood flooring, booth and table seating and couches and wireless Internet access. In addition to a range of drinks, Cottonwood offers baked goods. A kitchen opening by the first of September will feature soups, sandwiches and salads on the menu.

People say Cottonwood reminds them of a big city or of their favorite coffee shop somewhere else, said Limmer, originally from Pierre.

“It doesn’t make sense to me that Brookings doesn’t deserve a good coffee house,” he said. “We really want to be the best at what we do.”

The shop is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. “We’ll probably stay open longer in the school year,” said Limmer. Extended hours may include 24 hours during finals week.

“We definitely want to target the college.” But, he said, he wants to maintain connections to the community as well, a strategy “which has been working so far.”

“They want to be really cool and offer things for college kids,” said SDSU student Kristin Dalton, a barista at Cottonwood. But customers have included people with small children and senior citizens, she said.

“I think it offers something for everybody of all ages,” she said. “It’s really wide-range.”

Already, the shop has become a “staple hangout” for some, Dalton said.

Ivy Schwartz, a fifth-year liberal studies major, belongs to a knitting group that meets at Cottonwood every Thursday.

“You walk in, it feels like it’s a real coffee shop,” she said.

Fellow group member and SDSU grad Rachel Manzer said the shop has been very accommodating. “It’s something that Brookings has needed,” she said.

Plans to display local artwork and feature musical acts a couple times a month are in progress.

“We’d like to see younger talents” of the acoustic variety, said Limmer, who farms near Lake Norden. “Our theme is more relaxed than like a hard rock show.”

Currently, Cottonwood Coffee employs seven people.

“I think we’re just all excited to see what happens when we’re super busy,” said Dalton, a fourth-year fine arts major.

“This place is an escape,” she said. “We definitely needed this so badly. It’s probably some of the best espresso you’re going to get in South Dakota.”

Liquor Store Moves

Those looking to buy alcohol in Brookings can now do their shopping at the mall.

The new Brookings Liquor Store, in the Brookings Mall next to Hy-Vee, opened Aug. 1.

“The driving force was room,” said Dave Mitchell, assistant manager of the store. “We outgrew (the old) store probably 20 years ago.”

Changes include expanded cooler space and a beer vault, where people planning a large gathering can buy cases in bulk, Mitchell said.

He said he has noticed an increase in traffic, including Hy-Vee customers. “The majority of the population in Brookings lives on this side of Medary Avenue,” he said.

Describing people’s reactions to the expanded store, Mitchell said after customers come in the door, they just stop and say “wow.”

“From the outside, it doesn’t look that big,” he said.

The main coolers and beer vault have more square footage than the entire old store, he said.

While the stores hours currently remain the same (from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays), Mitchell said that may change this fall.

Other changes include expanding shelving and wine selection to offer more than 100 types of wine, Mitchell said.

“This store is a work in progress,” he said, noting changes will continue throughout the next couple months.

Mitchell said plans include expanding beer selection to include nearly all micro brews and imports available in South Dakota. Offering more non-alcoholic beverages is planned as well.

Despite all the changes, the store will remain tough on IDs, Mitchell said.

“That is not going to change. If anything, it might be tougher,” he said.

About two years ago, the store began using machines to electronically verify IDs.

“We want people to know that we have them,” Mitchell said.