Former Indiana Police Officer Serves His Community with New BIGGBY® COFFEE Location

Nicholas Novak has worked in the public service industry for most of his professional life. However, after 12 years in law enforcement, he’s decided to jump into the world of franchising by opening his very first BIGGBY® COFFEE location in St. John, Indiana.

The Novak’s location is tentatively slated to open on April 25 at 9151 Wicker Ave. 1851 Franchise recently spoke to Novak about his experience as he dives headfirst into the franchising industry.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Novak: I was a police officer and an army national guard veteran. I have dedicated most of my life to public service, but after nearly 13 years of law enforcement, between my time as a corrections and police officer, I wanted to move on. My wife, Mary, works in a cancer treatment center. We’ve always prioritized being community oriented. 

We discovered BIGGBY® COFFEE and thought the product was amazing. We learned more about the company’s values and how they treat their people and what they believe in, and we were sold. So, Mary and I, just a few months after discovering BIGGBY®, signed up.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Novak: I never really considered franchising much, but I always knew I wanted to start my own business. We looked into Subway once upon a time, but that was so many years ago and we never went with it.

Franchising is very structured, which is great for us because that’s what we were looking for. You get that established framework, and you also get to become a part of a community, not just with your local community, but the corporate community, as well. There’s not much I can advise on it yet, but I think it’s important to know what you’re getting into. Running a business is going to take a lot of time and effort, and blood sweat and tears. I think it’s worth it, just keep pushing forward.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Novak: I was introduced to BIGGBY® early last year when a new location opened up. They were providing drinks in the area and I went to check it out. I really enjoyed the product. I’ve had negative experiences at other coffee chains but not with BIGGBY®. I really enjoyed the beverage and felt good about it.

I really started looking into the company in February of last year. I looked into what they believe in, how they operate, how they treat their people and how they give back to the community. I kept seeing incredibly positive things and was discovering new things about BIGGBY® that you wouldn’t normally expect from a company in a corporate environment. We were sold by May.

I really love the idea of being involved in the community, as serving my community has essentially been the focus of my entire life. I look at it like this: Since many people start their mornings at a coffee shop, it’s our job to set the tone. If someone comes in and isn’t having the best day, they might remember that good cup of coffee. I just love having the opportunity to improve somebody’s mood.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Novak: Growth is always our mindset. We want to have more locations, because not only does that provide the opportunity to serve more communities, but it also offers more opportunities for our employees to grow, as well. We’re really focused on people. We want to serve high-quality beverages consistently and create a work environment that people will enjoy.

People not really wanting to go to the job they have has been one of the main workforce problems in the last 30 to 40 years. And many places don’t do much to solve that problem except for an occasional bonus. We want to transcend that. We want our employees to come here and understand that yes, this is work, but we don’t want our staff to leave feeling exhausted and disappointed. We want our employees to feel energized and good about what they do.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Novak: I always circle back to the idea of community. To express that, we have a large dining area inside our shop. We want to create a safe space and a comfortable environment. If you’ve ever felt marginalized in your life, you don’t have to worry about that here. You come in, you relax and you live your best life.

BIGGBY® COFFEE exists to support you in living the life you love. That’s what we believe. One of the best parts about our shop is that we’re larger and have more room to accommodate guests. We have a media area where we hope to hold movies. We also have a smaller, more comfortable area by a fireplace that I like to call the library space. We also have little nooks that can serve as private study areas where you might bring work, or schoolwork, and allow you to be alone in your own little space.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Novak: It harkens back to research. It’s important to do your own research and also to know the people. BIGGBY® COFFEE has made a name for itself, not only in creating a phenomenal product but also in its operations and how it treats its own people and customers. That’s one of the many reasons I decided to sign with them.

You should always make an effort to learn the inner workings of the entire environment. Ask questions, and ask how the franchisor will support you. It’s also important to note, realistically, no matter how prepared you are, you’ll discover you’re woefully unprepared. You can only plan as best as you can. But going through the tough times, you’ll grow and find you’re able to rise to the occasion. As far as advice goes, I think it’s really important to do research, get to know the people and focus on your attitude. Remind yourself why you started down this path.

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 340 cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Florida.