New SUB Retail Establishments Go Local

July 10, 2018

Baylor welcomes local brands Common Grounds, Heritage Creamery and Slow Rise Pizza to campus


Media Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-710-6275
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WACO, Texas (July 10, 2018) – Baylor University’s Bill Daniel Student Center, known to generations of Baylor students as the SUB, will welcome new retail additions this fall that will be very familiar to the campus and Waco communities.

Baylor and its dining services partner Aramark have worked together to bring iconic local brand Common Grounds, featuring Heritage Creamery and Slow Rise Pizza, all owned and operated by Waco native, Baylor graduate and entrepreneur Blake Batson, B.A. ’08. They will open in August on the first floor of the SUB in the space recently occupied by Einstein Bros. Bagels.

Common Grounds, a popular local coffee establishment and live music venue on Eighth Street just off campus, will offer its full menu, including the top-selling Cowboy Coffee, No Bull, Arnold Palmer, Milky Way and drip coffee of the day, as well as its locally roasted coffee by Native Sons Roasters. Heritage Creamery will offer its homemade ice cream, which is locally and responsibly sourced, by the scoop or pint, while Slow Rise will offer New York-style pizza by the slice. Heritage Creamery has a retail location next to Common Grounds on Eighth Street, while Slow Rise and a second location of Common Grounds recently opened in Woodway.

“Common Grounds and Baylor have a shared vision to create places for connection and community for Waco and the Baylor family. This exciting new venture is a continuation of this shared commitment and long-standing partnership,” said Matt Burchett, Ph.D., director of student activities at Baylor.

The SUB, Burchett said, has always been a gathering place where students, staff, faculty and alumni go to find a comfortable space and connect with one another.

“We are excited that Common Grounds will join the tradition of welcoming the Baylor Family over a cup of coffee and great conversation,” he said.

The new retail offerings also demonstrate the University’s support of the local economy and local businesses, as well as those owned by alumni.

“I want to build a company contributes to the places I care most about,” Batson said. “As a Waco native, Baylor graduate and small business owner, I believe in our community and want to invest in Waco’s continued growth and development. The partnership with Baylor aligns with our hope to create spaces that invite everyone to enjoy a great cup of coffee, a slice of pizza or a scoop of ice cream together. More importantly, we hope students, faculty, staff and alumni find connection and are proud of what we are doing together.”
In addition, Baylor and Aramark recently added the national brand Steak ‘n Shake, which joins Chick-fil-A, Panda Express and Freshii in the SUB food court, as they continue working together with the University to provide an exceptional dining experience for students, as well as for the entire campus community.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.