Starbucks replaces Milltown at STU, sparks debate over values and identity

Kevin McMurray works at the Starbucks in the Great Hall Café at St. Thomas University. (Photo by Suzanne Shah/AQ)

Starting September 2025, Starbucks replaced Fredericton’s Milltown Roasters in St. Thomas University’s Great Hall, a change that has stirred both excitement and unease among students, staff and faculty.

For some, the arrival of the world’s biggest coffee chain means variety and brand recognition.

For others, it represents the loss of Fredericton’s local character—and a reminder that even a campus café can’t escape global politics.

“I had a lot of pride and happiness [in Milltown] … that’s gotten bigger around here. I just personally really enjoy their coffee,” said graduating student Ezra McIntyre. “So it really sucks to see that replaced by something a lot more corporate.”

McIntyre also added that the timing feels awkward.

“It really sucks that the option we had on campus was very directly supporting Canadian businesses … JavaMoose was [from] Saint John and then Milltown was [from] here. So directly, New Brunswick businesses,” she said.

Kevin McMurray, who has worked in STU’s food services for 27 years, has poured coffee for students running in between classes for four years at the Great Hall Café.

For the past three years, a new coffee brand has replaced the other—from JavaMoose to Milltown and now Starbucks.

McMurray’s own tastes lean local, but he admits the franchise has added variety.

“Personally, I’m not much of a Starbucks fan. I’ve never been a Starbucks fan. I’ve always preferred Milltown coffee,” said McMurray. “But I do like their selection … it makes [things] a little more dynamic. It’s more to do. It’s more to offer.”

He said Starbucks has brought a slight uptick in traffic.

“It has increased a little bit. I wouldn’t say it’s twice as busy or anything, but it is a little bit busier,” he said.

McMurray also added that the orders have gotten more complicated.

“Everybody has their own drink that they love and their own special [way] how they like to have it made. So yes, we do get some special requests and we try to fill those as much as we can with what we have.”

While deliveries take longer than with Milltown Roasters, the prices are higher as well.

“I do find their prices are high … but students don’t seem to mind. They’ll pay,” said McMurray.

For second-year student Lima Samim, the decision raises deeper concerns.

“As a student, I see why Starbucks was chosen. It’s a global brand, consistent and very convenient, but I do feel a sense of loss because [Milltown] was a local shop that reflected community spirit,” she said.

Samim added that the change of coffee brands makes her feel a little conflicted due to Starbucks’ alleged support for Israel.

“For me, it’s not just about being Muslim, it is about humanity and justice. Starbucks has been linked to … controversies, including boycott campaigns connected to Palestine, as well as issues around labour rights and the environment,” said Samim. “Their global reputation makes me stop and think before buying from them.”

Samim also believes something intangible has been lost.

“I would have [preferred] a local shop like Milltown. It reflects the community better, keeps prices more reasonable and avoids some of the global controversies attached to a corporation like Starbucks,” she said. “It would have been more aligned with Canadian values of supporting local businesses and it would have offered a unique campus identity.”

Ken Critchley, a business professor at STU, said the decision to replace Milltown Roasters is part of a broader trend in higher education.

“When universities make these kinds of decisions, it’s often not about the coffee … it’s about the business arrangement,” he said. “When [contracts] come up again, there’s some sort of tendering process, some sort of objective criteria.”

He compared it to past battles between Pepsi and Coke for exclusive rights in schools and said Starbucks’ strength lies in predictability.

“They might have certain advantages just from their sheer size … they might be a preferred trendy, popular beverage right now among students,” he said.

Whether Starbucks lasts longer than its predecessors remains to be seen.

For now, students line up for pumpkin spice lattes in the Great Hall, even as others quietly wonder what was lost when Milltown Roasters left.