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Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

Happy 25th anniversary to Amit Bhatia Libe Café!

Cornell Dining marked the 25th anniversary this month of Amit Bhatia Libe Café, one of our flagship coffee shops centrally located off the lobby of Olin Library. The café opened in 2001, and was renamed in honor of Amit Bhatia ’01 after he made a generous gift to the Cornell University Library in the fall of 2011, following a visit to campus that spring with his family.

Amit Bhatia stands in front of the Libe Cafe door, holding his hand under the sign that says Amit Bhatia Libe Cafe
Amit Bhatia ’01 poses with the sign at Amit Bhatia Libe Café, after it was named in honor of his 2011 donation. Photo courtesy of Cornellians.

"I was lucky enough to be accepted to four or five Ivy League universities," Amit Bhatia told Ezra Magazine in 2012, "and I chose Cornell because of its campus. I always loved the common spaces, which bred harmony amongst us." That's why Cornell Library used his gift to help maintain the popular Libe Café as well as "to build first-rate research collections that continue to bring scholars and students to Cornell every year."

Cornell Dining assistant director Meng-Wei Hsu arranged a small celebration with an anniversary cake for the café's full-time staff, Cornell Library representatives, and student staff. Café team lead Kim Wooden was part of the opening team when Libe Café opened 25 years ago! Also on hand was Terry Sharpe, part of the original crew, who now works at the Cornell Dairy Bar.

Smiling people wearing cafe uniforms around a table. One person is holding up the edge of a cake.
The Amit Bhatia Libe Café staff celebrated with a cake on March 26th.

Thanks to everyone who's been part of the Amit Bhatia Libe Café story over the past 25 years, from all of our professional and student staff to every single student, staff or faculty member, or visitor who's stopped in for a latte, an iced tea, a sandwich, a pastry, or a study break.

A window with outdoor stairs seen through it. Written on the glass is a happy 25th anniversary message and the words Libe Love

Next time you visit, don't forget to wish the Amit Bhatia crew a happy 25th anniversary!

About Cornell Dining

Cornell Dining is consistently ranked in the Princeton Review's top ten for best campus food among all colleges and universities in the country! That high rating comes from customer surveys, and reflects Cornell Dining's commitment to serving high-quality foods that are healthy and creatively prepared with genuine care for a diverse community. Cornell Dining operates about 30 on-campus eateries -- which include residential dining rooms, cafés, coffeehouses, food courts, and convenience stores -- and serves more than 23,000 meals a day to members of the Cornell community. For more information, visit dining.cornell.edu.