Read and Grow: 10 Unique Study Spots in Grand Forks

As a student, studying is what occupies most of my day, even after the classes or during the weekends – it is my laptop and me against the world. But studying all the time can be a drag, and so I find different places to mix it up. As such, I categorized the Coolest study spots in Grand Forks into three categories: restaurants, coffee shops, and libraries

A restaurant’s main goal is to serve food, but my thought process is that I have to eat while I study anyway, so what better way to maximize my time than work while waiting for my food. Or sometimes talking with friends helps me generate ideas for a paper. Nevertheless, restaurants are best for people who like to study in crowded places.

Call me weird, but I love studying with my friends in Charras. Especially when I have a Pina Colada and Hawaiian Dream waiting as my reward. Charras is not exactly meant to be a study spot, so be prepared to have your computer charged before heading here.

On the other hand, JL Beers is also another wonderful study spot. They have outlets next to their high top seating. A server said that many people come to JL Beers to study as it is quiet during the day and people like to study with some beers. While the focus of this article is about the study location itself, I must mention that the burgers here are delish.

Lastly, Bernie’s is in the middle zone between cafe and restaurant. Typically, I would bring out some work to do while waiting for my order.  Then after eating lunch, I would grab a dessert (preferably donuts or their delectable cakes) from the counter and head to sign that says ‘The Bernie’s Study Hall.’ There, it is quiet and they have outlets. They also offer a 10% discount for students. When it comes to studying, Bernie’s definitely gets it!

Grand Forks is a college town, so there are many coffee shops for students to hang out or hold meetings. I like coffee shops because they are solid study locations based on three criteria: they have 1) food and drinks, 2) strong wifi, and 3) outlets readily available. I could personally stay for 4-5 hours in a coffee shop doing “unbothered deep work,” but just be aware of their hours – sometimes an establishment closes early due to an event. Usually the music is lofi, but it is acceptable to use your headphones in these areas.

Located at the end of Washington, The Board Room is a bit far from the university. Nevertheless, the vibes here are modern and neat. I like the Board Room as it offers a variety of food and drinks to recharge; from pizza, dessert, breakfast food and charcuterie boards. They also have alcoholic beverages and coffee. If one gets bored, they could play one of the shop’s board games, take a break with their little indoor swings, or watch TV. Their baristas are also the friendliest in town!

As for Urban Stampede, it is always a solid option to Grand Forksians. It is homey and cozy and placed in the heart of Grand Forks. They sometimes have live singers serenading you. Reglardless, I think they serve the best hot chocolate in town. And the best part? A fresh batch of Sandy’s donuts delivered in the morning! As for the space, the booths are the best. Each has a little lamp and mirror and outlet. The open table seats are also pretty great for students, since there are outlets on the floor.

Then comes Bully Brew! They have two locations in the Grand Forks region, one on Columbia and the other in East Grand Forks. The one on Columbia is the roomiest of all coffeeshops in Grand Forks. It has many booths and tables for seating. I think it is also cute that they have a bunch of bull dog art pieces, hence, “bully brew”. The owner, Sandi, named the business that way to pay homage of her bulldog, Elvis (which is also a sandwich item in the menu). Whatever location of Bully Brew you go to, it is really quiet and their seasonal drinks are the best!

If you’re into an open space, Archives is for you. It is convenient for UND students because it is in the middle of campus. I would usually have meetings here with professors and fellow students. However, parking can be hard if one’s not affiliated with UND, so I would suggest using the Passport Parking app before visiting Archives during school hours if you are not currently a UND student. Moreover, what makes Archives different from any coffee shop is that it is mainly a social place. I’ve mentioned holding meetings here, but it is also perfect for taking a break from academia and attending social events like seasonal craft vendors, comedy nights, or drag shows. And most importantly, Archives serves alcoholic drinks and challah!

I might be a bit biased toward the Chester Fritz Library since I worked there for two years and even gave tours, but I think it is the perfect study space, regardless–and not just for UND students. They’re open until midnight everyday except Fridays and Saturdays! According to librarian Danielle, “many people do not recognize that the Chester Fritz Library is open to the public […] We’re a public university that happens to have a library, therefore, everyone who’s paying taxes is welcome here”. However, many of the Chester Fritz’s most prized features are exclusive to UND students.

Did you know the Chester Fritz is the biggest library in North Dakota? It makes sense when you remember that there are multiple services at the Chester Fritz that even students might not know about. If you are a UND student, peep these extra bonuses:

• The Writing Center, which has staff on hand to assist with writing and editing essays.
• The One Button Studio, a reservable room that has a greenscreen and video equipment for video projects
• IT service offices
• Food and drink vending machines
• Special events like free coffee and therapy dogs during finals week.

The Grand Forks Public Library is another neat go-to area for studying. While it doesn’t have many study rooms and certain areas cater mostly to children, they offer many computers to use that are free to the public as for amenities. There are many tables with access to outlets as well as cozy spots to curl up with a book. They also always hold events that are kid-friendly. For instance, the Grand Forks Lego User Group just held their Lego display there for this year.

If you’re looking for a library close to Downtown Grand Forks, East Grand Forks Campbell Library is the place to be!  EGF Campbell Library is smaller than the other libraries, but is a more accessible location for Northland Community & Technical College students and East Grand Forks high schoolers. While they hold many events for kids, the EGF Campbell library hosts activities for all-ages like a glass etching class, a ‘knit & crochet’ social hour, and a cookbook club! And military history enthusiasts will be thrilled to hear that have a solely dedicated library about military history, which came from generous donors.

Studying doesn’t have to be boring, tedious, or “just at home”. We understand that there are different ways that people study and places they feel comfortable studying, so we hope these local study space suggestions will give you ideas and encourage you to become the academic weapon you are.