CMU students can look forward to a new campus attraction with the approaching opening of The Point within the next few months.

Located in the former Yoshi Bowl on 12th Street, The Point is a student-run establishment that will provide late-night food, beer and wine, coffee, study areas, and free wi-fi.

“We’re looking for a place where students can hang out, have a beverage,” Craton Edwards, manager at The Point, said.

The idea for The Point came last year in Professor Georgeann Jouflas’ Small Business Consulting class. A group of about four students “wanted to see if it was something CMU could have in real life,” Johnny Nitti, another manager at The Point, said.

The group handed out 400 surveys on campus, and the results showed that students wanted “after-hours food, beer and wine [and] free wi-fi,” Nitti said.

“[Students’] main complaint is the only thing open late is McDonald’s,” Jouflas said.

Her goal is to provide a safe, open environment for everyone to come eat, drink responsibly or study anytime. And while The Point will serve alcoholic beverages, drinking will not be the establishment’s focus.

“I’m not about the alcohol,” Jouflas said. “It’s our responsibility to pattern good behavior. You can drink responsibly.”

The Point will have strict standards in place to ensure an enjoyable atmosphere for everyone. For the first month, a liquor inspector will be helping filter out any fake I.D.s, and there may be a MAVcard scan to confirm ages.

The goal is to “make it what we feel would be best for CMU,” Edwards said.
As The Point proves successful, it will eventually move into the University Center game room and incorporate several areas of academia. Business, public relations, culinary and music students will all have opportunities to work together in making The Point successful.

“Business doesn’t run in a vacuum,” Jouflas said. “My passion is that people learn by doing. The more people involved in it, the more successful it’ll be.”