A group of local coffee shops is expanding once again, with a new café headed to Tufts University this fall.
Pavement Coffeehouse has signed a 10-year lease to open inside the Joyce Cummings Center at 177 College Avenue in Medford, taking over the space previously occupied by Starbucks, which closed last fall. According to The Tufts Daily, the café is tentatively expected to open in November 2026.
After Starbucks’ departure, Tufts University launched a search for a new coffee operator that could make use of the existing space while potentially offering an expanded food menu. Pavement ultimately stood out among the applicants.
“After reviewing all of the proposals, it was determined that Pavement offered the optimal terms, brand vision, offerings, compatibility with a campus setting, proven ability to execute, and financials,” Tufts Senior Director of Real Estate Karen Cutone told The Tufts Daily.
Cutone also said the company may begin serving customers even sooner through a temporary coffee cart in the Joyce Cummings Center lobby, though those plans have not yet been finalized.
The Tufts café will mark Pavement Coffeehouse’s 10th Greater Boston location. The growing local chain currently operates cafés in neighborhoods including Allston and Harvard Square, as well as on the campuses of Boston University, Harvard University, and Lesley University.
Founded by Larry Margulies near the Berklee College of Music in 2009, Pavement Coffeehouse’s menu features a variety of classic café offerings, from freshly roasted specialty coffee, espresso-based beverages, matcha, and tea to house-made bagels, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and other grab-and-go favorites.
