Roanoke-based coffee chain CUPS Coffee and Tea, whose inaugural store is located at 1402 Grandin Road in Roanoke, will be expanding to another new location, according to owner Michelle Bennett. After expanding the brand last year to a store on Brambleton Ave. in Roanoke–CUPS A GO-GO, which closed four months later in September 2012–Bennett is ready to try again as she prepares to open CUPS on Campus at Roanoke College.

Fintel Library will house the cafe, which is set to open on the first day of the school’s spring semester, Jan. 14. Bennett, known for her dry wit, called the deadline “alarmingly close” on Thursday, Jan. 3, but says she is “excited to get my brand into Salem.”

“I think it will be a convenient location for the students, staff and faculty,” Bennett said, and she hopes the new cafe, which will also be open to the public, can draw customers from both on and off campus.

“I’m very excited about CUPS moving into the Salem market,” said CUPS on Campus manager Sean Poff. “It’ll be great to get the brand out to that area, and I believe the community will really appreciate the product. I’m also [excited] to be on campus in Fintel. It will be an advantage to both students and faculty and limit how far they have to travel from their dorms or offices.”

Roanoke College will own the equipment, while “CUPS will be providing the personnel, goodies, coffee and tea,” Bennett said.

“CUPS on Campus will be featuring a few things signature to the Salem location,” Poff said. “We will have our own ‘Rooney Blend’, named after the school mascot, and we’ll also be working closely with the school for special functions.”

CUPS enthusiasts have probably gotten used to the talents of roaster Chris Spoon–Spoon will be on board for CUPS on Campus as well, according to Poff.

“Our roaster, Chris Spoon, is on top of his game, always offering up a wide variety of excellent roasts,” Poff said. “We’re also one of the few shops in the area you’ll find that features the quality of bean that we have.”

CUPS on Campus will be open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m; the store will be closed on Saturdays.

“We’ll also have extended hours during exam weeks to help the students get through,” said Poff, “because–after all–caffeine and studying go hand in hand for a lot of exam-takers.”

For more information about CUPS, visit their website at www.cupscoffeeandtea.com.