Bo Jackson was a legend even before he became one of, if not the most celebrated two-sport professional athlete of all time (we hear you, Deion). That status was cemented during his four years at Auburn University, which included the 1985 Heisman Trophy. Now, Bo is going back to school—kind of.
Graduate Hotels, the hotel brand owned and operated by AJ Capital Partners, has announced Bo Jackson’s Beans for the forthcoming Graduate Auburn, which is currently under development and expected to open in 2024.
Bo Jackson’s Beans will be a coffee shop and bar and will honor his contributions to the sports world and decades-spanning career that began at Auburn University in 1982.
“I have always pushed myself to be the best at everything I do while focusing on initiatives that deliver a positive impact,” said Jackson, who after Auburn starred as a running back with the Los Angeles Raiders and as an outfielder with the Kansas City Royals. “Bo Jackson’s Beans will be an extension of this mission, and I am excited to be partnering with Graduate Hotels to create a unique and welcoming space that helps me give back to the incredible community that gave me so much.”
Graduate Hotels, which are located in university towns, currently has 37 properties across the U.S. and U.K. Each property celebrates and commemorates the community and campus for which it resides.
“We’re all about recognizing the people and stories that are the fabric of each Graduate community, and you can’t talk about Auburn without Bo Jackson,” said Ben Weprin, Graduate Hotels’ founder and CEO. “Bo is a real-life superhero who epitomizes hard work, passion, and the dream-chaser attitude that we celebrate so wholeheartedly, and we’re honored to partner with him in the place where his legendary career began.”
The five-story Graduate Auburn will have 177 rooms, a rooftop, additional dining, on-site parking and more than 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space. The hotel will be located at 202 W Magnolia Avenue, just across the street from the university.