Saxbys to re-open after a Penn-inspired makeover

Saxbys Coffee is about to get a much-needed facelift. 

The popular coffee shop  on 40th and Locust streets will be closed until late October or early November as it undergoes significant renovations. Changes to the cafe include a newly designed coffee bar, furniture, lighting, artwork and an updated “comfortably upscale” aesthetic, Saxbys founder and CEO Nick Bayer said.

“We are literally changing everything. The only thing students will recognize is the placement of the bathrooms," Bayer said. 

The decision to renovate the coffee shop was largely based on feedback received from Penn students throughout the years. In response to a variety of surveys and focus groups, Saxbys will add soft furniture, big communal tables for collaboration, more seating areas, accessible outlets and even separate rooms for study groups or interview sessions.

Although there will be no major menu overhauls associated with the renovation, Saxbys will still continue to add and change menu items as they constantly try to improve their products, Bayer said.

In addition, Saxbys is refining its overall aesthetic to reflect the tastes of Penn’s evolving student body.

“The students that we see there are domestic, if not international, travelers. They have sophisticated tastes — we’ve really seen that evolution,” Bayer said. Saxbys’ renovations will bring the same level of refinement to its decor, while still maintaining its warm, neighborhood-cafe when used as atmosphere, he added.

Bayer also announced that Saxbys is partnering with Penn's Fine Arts Department for the wall features. It plans on showcasing student artwork on rotation. 

“One of the things we pride ourselves on is designing every [Saxbys to be] unique,” Bayer said. The new Saxbys will even feature a hand-painted Penn crest on the restaurant's millwork.

Saxbys will celebrate its re-opening with community outreach events.  

"It’s really important to us to be an asset to the community," Bayer said.

Based on the changes being made, Saxbys’ dedication to serving the community seems to hold true. Penn students will have to wait only one month before seeing it for themselves. 

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