Così, BKG Coffee Roasters and Starbucks are three on-campus dining establishments familiar to the Fordham community. However, these establishments are not exclusive to Fordham. They are chains, operating several locations across the country.
Così Restaurant Holdings LLC was founded in 1989, and as of 2025, operates 14 locations across the East Coast. The corporation was originally founded by Drew Harré in 1989 on Rue de Seine in Paris. They were established as a “fast-casual” chain, which offers a healthier alternative to fast food while still holding the same level of convenience.
Rose Hill’s Così opened beneath Campbell Hall in 2013, following the closing of the Empire State Café. Compared to Cosí, which offers meals of more substance, Empire State Café was a coffee-based establishment. After Cosí opened on the Rose Hill campus, students who had visited the Così in Union Square noted how the food at Rose Hill’s Così was of similar quality. Overall, Così was well-received when it was first established.
BKG Coffee Roasters had a different journey to Fordham. Founded by brothers Craig, James and Alain Muir, BKG began roasting in Brooklyn in 2003 out of a small apartment and soon opened its first location by the Brooklyn Navy Yard. They also served baked goods from Balthazar Bakery, another local establishment in Brooklyn. As of 2024, the Brooklyn location closed.
The Starbucks in Dealy Hall was established at Fordham in 2017, following renovations done on Dealy to accommodate the famous coffee chain.
“Fordham University joins the many New Yorkers and, literally, the population the world over who admire, flock to and enjoy the local restaurant culture in the communities the University shares, both in the Bronx and in the surrounding Lincoln Center communities,” said Deming Yaun, dining services contract liaison for Aramark at Fordham University.
The integration of chain restaurants on campus is largely due to Ram Hospitality’s mission to provide something unique for each student. Yaun prioritized finding reliable and well-examined food supply sources to integrate at Rose Hill in order to create a seamless dining experience for students. “The amount of resources Fordham expects from its partners requires, simply, an organization from the worldwide stage,” said Yaun.
Students also weighed in on this topic. “The Starbucks in Dealy definitely gets very busy, having that brand recognition is a super important part of their business on campus,” said Tyler Rayer, GSB ’28.
Starbucks is one of the most popular dining locations on campus, and has a loyal following of clientele who visit the establishment every day, often for the same food or drink. While another Starbucks is located just outside the university gates on Fordham Road, the Starbucks in Dealy Hall offers students a similar experience, without having to cough up additional cash outside of their dining dollars.
