Students of Georgetown, Inc. (The Corp), a student-run non-profit organization operating seven services on campus, celebrated 30 years of student-run coffee services at Georgetown University, marked by the 1994 opening of Uncommon Grounds (UG) in the Leavey Center.
The Corp originally began as an organization to protect students from violent protests in the Washington, D.C. area during the heat of the Vietnam War, funding its initiatives through selling Coca-Cola and yogurt on Healy Lawn. In 1973, The Corp expanded its operations by opening up its first permanent location, a convenience store called Vital Vittles, and in 1994, The Corp established UG, its second major location and first coffee shop.
Ned Segal (CAS ’96), then-president of the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA), played a pivotal role in UG’s establishment. He said GUSA unanimously endorsed the idea of a coffee shop as the optimal use for the available space, and The Corp agreed to begin the project.
“We started with a blank slate in thinking about how to use the space,” Segal said to The Hoya. “Everybody agreed that having a coffee shop would be a great way to bring more students to the Leavey Center.”
“The hardest part about developing The Corp was getting opinions from all the different stakeholders and coming to decisions so everyone felt good about the use of the space for many years to come, necessitating a collaborative and thoughtful process,” Segal added.
To choose a name for the new coffee shop, Segal said The Corp and GUSA decided to host a contest open to all students.
“We felt strongly that a student-run coffee shop should be named by students,” Segal said. “There were many submissions, but there was a clear consensus that ‘Uncommon Grounds’ was the best way to name it, and I’m so happy to see that it’s still used 30 years later.”
Segal said the opening of UG attracted undergraduate students to a part of campus that had ample seating space but had been mainly used by medical students.
“Uncommon Grounds brought more undergraduates into Leavey and as a result, they spent more time there,” Segal said. “Whether studying or meeting friends, it changed the way people enjoyed the Leavey Center.”
Angela Lee (CAS ’26), a regular UG customer, said that despite the array of resources available at the Leavey Center, the student-run coffee shop remains its primary draw for the Georgetown community.
“I just love being able to sit and do work with my coffee and friends accompanied by the music that they play there,” Lee said to The Hoya. “I have met so many of my friends just by sitting there all day surrounded by happy Georgetown students.”
To celebrate the anniversary, The Corp hosted an exhibition in collaboration with the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in Lauinger Library, displaying photographs, articles and merchandise featuring the history of The Corp coffee establishments. The Corp also hosted an open house and coffee tasting for graduates in collaboration with Compass Coffee, the coffee distributor of The Corp.
Matt Shin (CAS ’25), president and CEO of The Corp, said this anniversary has been the perfect occasion to recognize The Corp’s achievements.
“Outside of all these events, this anniversary has been a great time for us to take a critical look at our coffee operations and the direction we want to head in the future,” Shin wrote to The Hoya. “We know that Georgetown students love (and need) their caffeine and we are committed to ensuring that The Corp continues to meet those needs for another 30 years.”
Letu Tiruneh (CAS ’26), an employee at the Hilltoss Cafe in the Healey Family Student Center, said Corp locations remain a hub of student engagement.
“I have found my home within The Corp,” Tiruneh told The Hoya. “This is the most interesting job I have ever had; it is more than just a club, it has even helped me obtain my post-grad job.”
Segal said that looking back 30 years later, The Corp and its coffee services remain a crucial part of Georgetown tradition.
“Student-run businesses have long been an essential part of the experience at Georgetown both for the students benefiting from the services but also those working and in leadership positions delivering the services,” Segal said. “It is a unique aspect of Georgetown that we should all be proud of.”