The last day of Starbucks’ operation in the Joyce Cummings Center was marked by confusion and disappointment, as the closure was announced with only two days’ notice. The grab-and-go, pick-up only cafe not only provided fast drinks and bites to students and faculty going in and out of one of Tufts’s busiest buildings, but it was also a place for socialization, studying, networking and conversations over coffee and sweet treats. Starbucks was also a convenient place for the numerous guests coming in and out of the JCC while touring Tufts and a hot spot for families that visited. The grief from much of the student body is justified: Tufts lost a popular multipurpose cafe that served a wide range of audiences.
Despite this, coffee and pastry enthusiasts need not fret: Now is the perfect time to explore the greater Medford and Somerville area, support local cafes and connect more with the community around Tufts. The Editorial Board has put together a few recommendations to help you get started.
First, we have the Hillside cafes: Tasty Cafe & Kitchen, Tamper Cafe and Danish Pastry House. Their proximity to the JCC makes them great replacements for meetings that took place there, and they are just close enough for students and faculty to grab quick drinks and bites in between classes. While the livelier, more social atmospheres of Tasty and Tamper make them great for chatting and catching up with friends, Danish Pastry House offers a cozier, quieter setting that is perfect for studying, having a coffee chat with someone you admire or meeting with a professor.
Somerville’s many ‘squares’ have some great java spots as well! Ball Square is about a 15-minute walk from the JCC (also accessible via Green Line!) and is home to True Grounds, Sound Bites Cafe and Pound House Coffee. Pair your latte with a sandwich or pastry from True Grounds, a classic American breakfast at Sound Bites Cafe or some Vietnamese cuisine at Pound House Coffee. But run, don’t walk to these spots — these cafes close at 2 or 3 p.m. each day.
The illustrious Davis Square, which also lost its Starbucks the same day we did, has plenty of other coffee options. Nine Bar Espresso is sure to give you a much-needed pick-me-up. Diesel Cafe and Revival Cafe+Kitchen also have delicious options in a groovy atmosphere. Mr. Crêpe offers a late-night option for hangouts and cram sessions.
Finally, there is the often-forgotten Teele Square, located near the lower west side of campus. It is home to a small, yet beloved local chain, Magnificent Muffin & Bagel (with another location in West Medford), known for its delicious breakfast sandwiches, as well as Yego Coffee, with a remarkable rating of 4.9 stars on Google. The Buzzin’ Bean, with a diverse menu inspired by African, South American and Asian cuisines, also provides a vegetarian option!
The closing of Starbucks has left many Tufts students wondering what will come next: Will another global or national chain move in? Will a local cafe take its place? Could The Sink expand into the JCC? Or will yet another Tufts building lose its cafe entirely — just as Curtis Hall lost the Brown and Brew Coffee House in 2017 and Miller Hall lost the REZquad in 2011?
We, the Daily’s Editorial Board, hope the space can be used to support local businesses. Local businesses are great at preserving humanism and culture, which is just what we need. Trust and kindness can be rare nowadays, especially at large chain cafes.
The relationship between the college, the college town and local businesses in the college town is one that is often overlooked, yet important to all three. Tufts, a school with so much of its identity defined by its location in the Medford and Somerville area, must think about its role in supporting these local businesses. The closing of a global chain seems like the perfect moment to do so. While we don’t expect a new local cafe to appear overnight, perhaps these recent closures will encourage more students and faculty to visit nearby local spots instead, potentially helping those businesses grow in the meantime and fostering a strong connection between Tufts and the local community.
