UR’s 8:15 at Boatwright Café opens in new location along with expanded menu

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Grabbing coffee on the University of Richmond's (UR) campus just got even better, as the long-time Boatwright café opened for the 2025-26 academic year in a new location.

On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the university announced that the 8:15 at Boatwright Café is officially open for the new location and expanded menu.

The café first opened more than two decades ago back in October 2003, and got its name after students would grab a cup of coffee while heading to their 8:30 a.m. classes, according to a Sept. 3 release from the university. Now, the hot spot on campus is in a larger location on the newly renovated ground floor of the Boatwright Memorial Library.

“8:15 at Boatwright has been UR's coffeeshop for over twenty years, and our expanded space and menu provide guests, especially our students, with more room to relax, study, and connect,” said Tyler Betzhold, interim executive director and executive chef.

According to UR, the café's new menu includes bagel sandwiches, scratch-made grab-and-go meals that can be heated, overnight oats, charcuterie boxes, and house-made pastries and desserts, along with allergen-friendly and locally made options.

Signature coffee, teas and other beverage options are also included in the expanded menu, according to a release.

“Feedback so far includes that students are appreciating the expanded space and offerings that allow them to comfortably stay within the library while studying individually or gathering as a group for longer periods of time,” said Betzhold. “Providing that continuity was a major piece of this renovation, and we are delighted students are enjoying this enhanced retail dining experience.”

Dining services partners with the Philadelphia-based brand, La Colombe, for 8:15's coffee options and is one of two coffee shops in the area to carry the products.

“For years, our commissary kitchen has been making items for sale at our retail stores, but no one was aware that these items were scratch-made on campus. By branding our new heat-and-eat meals, as well as other grab-and-go products like parfaits and overnight oats, we are letting our community know how much of the food we sell is produced daily on campus,” Betzhold said.