Daily Press & Argus reporter Frank Konkel at (517) 552-2835 or at fkonkel@gannett.com
East Lansing-based Biggby Coffee opened a new store in Hartland Township last month, and the owners want everyone to know it's a place "where everybody knows your name."
Like the acclaimed television show "Cheers," husband-and-wife team Mike and Denise Bogues aim to provide more than just coffee connoisseur-worthy drinks at Hartland's Biggby Coffee — now the company's third store in Livingston County.
The store is east of U.S. 23 at 11325 W. M-59.
"We found a lot of the kids in the neighborhood don't have a place to go, they don't know where to hang out, and they're so dependent on texting that the art of conversation is dying," said Mike Bogues, a former software designer.
Together with his wife — who teaches math at Hartland High School — they have two teenage children.
"They don't know what to do with themselves, and we thought we'd take care of that little problem," Mike Bogues said. "We wanted to have a place where everyone knows your name."
So far, he said, the feedback has been "unbelievable," with many customers already forming a first-name relationship with staff. With both children in college, he will handle managing the store, in addition to working toward a master's degree at Cleary University. Denise Bogues will continue to teach and pitch in at the store after the school day ends.
The store features free wireless Internet access and numerous hot and cold drink options, including hits like the Teddy Bear and Caramel Marvel. It also serves several variants of bagels, muffins and the like, as well as tasty desserts such as brownies and cookies.
As recently as last winter, Mike Bogues said he'd formed a business plan and was ready to open an independent business. But in examining dozens of franchises, Mike Bogues said Biggby Coffee stood out.
"It was uncanny how our goals aligned with each other," he said. "I knew I had to go with these guys."
Hartland Township's Biggby Coffee is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
Contact Daily Press & Argus reporter Frank Konkel at (517) 552-2835 or at fkonkel@gannett.com
6 comments:
Biggby Coffee...Populating the M-59 corridor from Hartland to Macomb Township, with intermediate stops in White Lake, Rochester Hills and Utica. So if you live in Waterford or Pontiac, start letting the folks in the Biggby real estate department to get on the stick (or is it get off the schneid?) and open a cafe there already.
And to the Bogues family, best of luck.
I love charting out all of the B's on the map in Michigan along the various highways and freeways...great that we can traverse the state now on 96 and you can stop frequently enough that your cup will never get empty and never get cold...it almost sounds like a miracle! ;)
Hartland is a great city name for a BIGGBY store as so many people "heart" BIGGBY COFFEE. Best of luck with the store!!
Best wishes to the Bogues on the success of the new store. I'm sure Hartland is going to love having a BIGGBY to call their own!
I was born in Lansing Michigan, i will have to visit your coffee shop
Great reading your blog
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