On Nov. 6, Starbucks released their 2025 holiday menu nationwide, bringing a new collection of merchandise and drinks.
The anticipation for this collection was experienced worldwide, causing long lines and wait times on opening day.
SRU students were also eager to indulge in these seasonal treats.
The Rocket conducted an interview with an SRU student who was present when the Smith Student Center (SSC) Starbucks opened the day of the launch.
“My experience on the first day of the holiday release was very peaceful. I didn’t have to wait long for my drink since my friends and I decided to go early in the morning. The atmosphere felt exciting but calm, and everyone seemed happy to be there,” a SRU student said.
The Rocket also had the opportunity to speak with a SSC Starbucks barista to learn more about the holiday launch from an employee’s point of view.
The SSC Starbucks barista did not work the day of the launch.
They were told by coworkers that wait times for drinks were about an hour that day.
Students on campus lined up early on Thursday morning outside of the SSC in hopes to beat the lines and get first pick on the new merchandise.
“I was honestly surprised by how many people showed up so early. I expected maybe a couple of people, but there were at least 15 of us waiting when I arrived. It really showed how dedicated some fans are to getting the new holiday items right when they drop,” a SRU student said.
Many students waited outside in hopes to be one of the lucky few to buy the limited edition “Bearista” cup.
This cup has been increasingly popular on social media since the Starbucks company advertised their holiday collection.
“The bear cups’ stock was given out unevenly to stores. So people had planned to line up outside the store before the student center even opened at 7 a.m. So people had gotten up around four in the morning to line up. They are very cute cups, but I don’t get the hype. There’s cheaper versions elsewhere in better stock just without the Starbucks logo,” a SSC Starbucks barista said.
Even now that the menu has been out for awhile, the Starbucks on campus has continued to have a lengthy wait time.
“When it comes to the long wait times, I understand that it’s something to expect on big launch days like the Christmas release. I’ve had to wait before, and I don’t really mind it, but I do think Starbucks should make the estimated times on Grubhub and the app more accurate. It’s frustrating when it says 10 minutes and ends up being closer to 40,” a SRU student said.
Regardless of wait times, Starbucks continues to be a popular spot on campus for students to catch up with friends and reward themselves with a sweet treat.
