BIGGBY COFFEE | WHY I BOUGHT
With 379 stores open and around 150+ in development, BIGGBY® COFFEE is rapidly expanding. After recently winning the bid to replace a local Starbucks, the coffee franchise will open its doors in Milwaukee, WI in April at 920 North Water St. Milwaukee, WI 53202.
MILWAUKEE, WI — Two local friends and multi-unit BIGGBY® COFFEE owners, Keith Washington and Curtis Grace, have won the bid to replace a local Starbucks with their newest BIGGBY® COFFEE to Milwaukee. The 379 unit coffee franchise focused on enriching communities and helping people build a life they love has secured 48 new store openings last year, to include units in emerging markets such as Illinois, Idaho, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina and Virginia. Now, they are expanding again with their next opening in Milwaukee, WI at 920 North Water St. Milwaukee, WI 53202. While the exact date has not been finalized, the location is expected to open in April.
“We are thrilled to announce additional expansion within Wisconsin. There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity in the coffee and cafe space,” explained Bob Fish, co-chief executive officer. “No one else is doing what we are on the same scale, and that’s attracting a lot of attention.
The new location will be opened by Washington and Grace, two local friends and former airport employees. When they met each other working in an airport, they knew they wanted more for themselves and started to figure out business together. Now, the duo owns two BIGGBY® COFFEE locations in Franklin, WI and Saint Charles, IL. They also have two more in the works in Cudahy, WI and their fourth location will be the takeover of Starbucks in Milwaukee in April.
“Keith and I were born and raised in Milwaukee and hope to bring several BIGGBY® COFFEE locations to the area and surrounding areas throughout the years,” said Grace. “Our goal is to open one to two locations per year.”
This new BIGGBY® COFFEE location will open at a prime area in Milwaukee as it is a hub for the winter and summer festivals and is connected to an ice skating rink.
“We’re extremely excited for this location in Milwaukee and looking forward to having extended hours so we can serve the community at this beautiful location,” said area representative Tom Belongia.
Looking ahead, BIGGBY® COFFEE aims to have 1,000 locations opened by 2028 and is focused on cultivating a BIGGBY® Nation team culture that helps people build a life they love.
About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise
BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 370-plus cafes across many states, including Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Florida.