The Kresge Library Café made its highly anticipated debut Monday morning. Open for business, the café features a line of beverages and snacks for students in the library.

“We are very excited about it,” said Chartwells Executive Chef Gerald Gatto. “The café adds another level of service, giving students another option while bringing value to the building.”

According to Gatto, the Dean of the Library has been talking about the making of a Kresge Café for more than eight years.

Construction for the café began in July this year.

Rashad Gulzar, a pre-physical therapy student who works at the information center in the library, is excited for the new café location. “I’m pretty much here all the time,” Gulzar said.

Chartwells executives have been working in conjunction with OU Student Congress president Brandon Gustafson, and vice president Amy Ring. A partnership that Gatto describes as “setting a new precedent.”

The café also has a partnership with Peet’s Coffee.

Peet’s provided the café with various equipment and job training for new employees. Representatives from Peets will be training café employees for two days next week, Gatto said.

The café was open for its first day of business Monday, Oct. 18 at 8 a.m. But a date for the café’s grand opening has yet to be determined and is likely to be held sometime in November.

At the grand opening, the café will offer doughnuts and coffee samples to customers.

“This is all new to us,” Gatto said. “This is the first time we’ve gone outside of the Oakland Center.”

Students can visit twww.DineOnCampus.com for more information. Café hours of operation include: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Fridays. The café will be open until 10 p.m. during exam weeks, but will be closed during semester breaks.