Customers are greeted by great big chalkboard signs filled with a multitude of options written in brightly colored chalk. The smell of coffee hits the nose like a ton of bricks as soon as one walks into Coffee Cartel. But perhaps the thing that puts Coffee Cartel on the map is the fact that they are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

“We [are] open all day just because there really isn’t a place you can go to late at night and we want people to know they can come in at any time they want,” barista Derek Campbell said.

Founded in 1996, this coffee shop is located on Maryland Plaza in St. Louis just a few blocks away from the St. Louis Children’s hospital.

“I like working here because it’s a fun environment and you get to see a lot of people,” employee Jamira Sykes said. “Plus the employees, they’re great, we get along with each other very well. It’s just a dream job.”

Aside from coffee, Coffee Cartel sells a variety of pastries, including donuts, muffins and cookies. They also sell different flavors of smoothies. They have a fully stocked freezer filled with 24 different flavors of Edy’s Grand Ice Cream. Alongside all the sweets is a wide range of food made to order, from pizza to sandwiches to quesadillas.

“I love that they have such a wide variety of food,” senior Sierra Teuscher said. “Whether you’re in the mood for coffee or ice cream or pizza, they have it all.”