The Simon Fraser Student Society (SFSS) announced today that it is exploring options for the space that houses the Highland Pub and the Higher Grounds Coffee Shop. The society’s first priority is to see if they can lease the space to another food and beverage operator, according to SFSS President Hangue Kim.
“We will be reaching out to members of the food and beverage industry who have successful experience in providing the type of food and entertainment experience that students are looking for,” said Kim, in a statement. “We are planning to show the space in May and June.”
In April, the SFSS notified students that it would be permanently shutting down all of its food and beverage options effective June 15 due to ongoing financial losses. Food and beverage operations ran a deficit of nearly $350,000 last year.
The Highland Pub and the Ladle were closed for summer at the end of April with little warning to students.
In the statement, the SFSS noted that if a new operator is not in place by the end of the summer, then members “will reconnect with students to discuss other possible uses.”
“We know that this is great space on our Burnaby campus,” Kim stated. “We would like to keep it as a social hub for students.”
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[…] with all other SFSS food and beverage operations after years of significant deficits. The SFSS then considered leasing the pub and coffee shop space to another food and beverage operator, meeting resistance and concern from many students, including […]