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Cups Could Be No More

AOC studying whether to give the beloved Hill coffee shop the heave-ho

Cups & Company is located in the basement of the Russell Senate Office Building. (Bill Clark/Roll Call)
Cups & Company is located in the basement of the Russell Senate Office Building. (Bill Clark/Roll Call)

The beloved Cups & Company in the Russell Senate Office Building, a favorite on Capitol Hill, could lose its contract and end services.

Charles and Kathy Chung have been operating Cups since 2001 and their contract has to be renewed every four years. But this time around, they are competing with other companies and will find out in November if Cups will still be operating.

The other companies in the running reportedly include Sodexo, a food service conglomerate that took over as vendor for all dining areas in the House and House office buildings in August 2015.

“To ensure the Senate Community continues to receive exceptional value and service, the AOC regularly reviews food service contract options and re-competes its food service contracts when contract terms expire,” an Architect of the Capitol spokeswoman said in an email. “As such, we are conducting a competitive source selection to award a new food service contract for a term beginning after November 2017.”

UNITED STATES - JULY 13: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, arrives for the meeting for the unveiling of the Senate Republicans' new version of health care plan on Thursday, July 13, 2017. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is often seen holding a coffee cup from Cups. (Bill Clark/Roll Call File Photo)

The AOC does not comment on proposals or pending contracts, nor could they confirm that Sodexo is competing for the contract, during the procurement process.

Cups, located in the Russell Building basement, is famous for its coffee, breakfast pastries and hot lunch sandwiches, to name a few items.

It’s a staffer and senator favorite. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz is seldom seen without a Cups cup and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York is a big fan as well.

It is a favorite meeting place for every occasion — from legislative strategy huddles to prospective job interviews to rare breaks from work. And there is also that most consistent staple: the Chungs themselves. 

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