The day before a big event is the worst time to lose your coffee. That's exactly where the team at Hub Lincoln found themselves this week. Their open house in Bloomington was set for Friday, and the coffee cart they'd booked cancelled at the last minute.
They reached out to us with less than 24 hours to go. We said yes, packed up and drove down from Indianapolis. On Friday, October 16, we served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Who we served
Hub Lincoln is a new student housing community coming to North Lincoln Street, a short walk from IU's Memorial Stadium, and it opens in fall 2027. Until then, leasing happens out of their office on North Walnut Street, just off the courthouse square downtown.
Friday was their open house, the kind of day when students and parents stop in to tour floor plans and ask questions. A coffee bar gives people a reason to come in, stay a little longer, and leave with a good impression. Losing it the day before would have left a hole in the plan.
Their cups, their straws, their brand
Hub Lincoln already had custom cups and straws made for the event, and they asked us to serve in them. So every drink that left our cart had their branding on it, not ours.
We're glad to work that way. Some clients want our logo cups or their logo printed right on the foam. Others already have branded cups on hand and just need someone to fill them well. Either way, the drink in a guest's hand is part of your event, so it should look like your event.
Why we could say yes on short notice
A last-minute booking only works if very little has to go right on the venue's side. Our cart is fully self-contained. All we need is about an 8 × 8 ft space and one standard 120V outlet, and we bring everything else: the espresso machine, grinder, milks, syrups and water.
That meant Hub Lincoln didn't have to rearrange anything. They told us where to set up and when to start, and we took it from there.
In a bind? Here's what to send us
If your coffee falls through before an event, send these and we can tell you fast whether we're free:
Your date and the hours you need us serving
The address, and where the nearest outlet is
Roughly how many guests you're expecting
Whether you have your own cups or want us to bring them
The quickest way to reach us is a call or text to (812) 302-2439. You can also use our quote form, which we answer within 24 hours, often the same day.
Coffee carts for leasing offices and property managers
Open houses, leasing pushes, resident appreciation days and move-in weekends all have the same goal: get people through the door and give them a reason to stay. A barista making drinks to order does that better than a coffee box on a table.
We serve apartment communities, leasing offices and property teams across Central Indiana, with unlimited drinks for your whole service window and branding options if you want them.
More from Bloomington
This was our second Bloomington event in a few weeks. Last month we ran a branded matcha bar for GUIZIO's IU pop-up, complete with a custom cart wrap and the logo printed on every drink. If you're planning something in Bloomington, see our Bloomington coffee cart catering page.
We always recommend booking early, especially for busy weekends. But if something falls through, call us anyway. We move fast when we can.
Thanks to the Hub Lincoln team for trusting us on short notice, and congratulations on a great open house.
Quick answers
Can you book a coffee cart at the last minute? Sometimes, yes. It depends on our calendar, but we've stepped in with less than 24 hours' notice. Call or text (812) 302-2439 and we'll tell you right away.
Can you serve drinks in our own branded cups? Yes. We're happy to use cups and straws you provide, or we can bring cups printed with your logo.
Do you cater leasing office and apartment events? Yes. We serve open houses, leasing events and resident appreciation days for apartment communities across Central Indiana, including Bloomington.
