A major franchiser is partnering with the ever-expanding Caribou Coffee brand to open dozens of the chain’s premium coffee shops.
The Manna Development Group is a California company that owns and operates more than 150 Panera Bread bakery-cafes in 10 different states. They’ve signed a franchise agreement to develop over 50 new Caribou Coffee locations across Michigan.
The new owners say one of the first coffeeshops they plan to launch as part of the deal is a Caribou Coffee at 16006 Southfield Road in Allen Park.
The first location will open in Battle Creek this summer and the Allen Park shop is slated to start serving up brews later this year, according to a statement company officials sent What Now Media.
“Manna Development Group LLC, under the leadership of Paul Saber and Patrick Rogers, will bring the beloved Caribou coffeehouse brand back to Michigan,” the statement said. “Manna is excited for the opportunity to generate 25+ jobs at each location to help strengthen and fuel the community.”
Site plans for the Allen Park location were submitted to the city in December and approved by planning officials in March. No indoor seating is proposed for the 600 square-foot shop, but it will feature a drive-thru and outdoor patio, according to those plans.
It will sit on the property formerly occupied by the B. Boomers Sports Bar & Grill, which originally opened in 1988 and re-opened in 2013 before shutting down for good.
Construction is expected to begin early this summer and should be completed by fall, according to site plan projections.
Caribou Coffee is a Minnesota-based franchise founded in a Minneapolis suburb in 1992. It has more than 700 locations worldwide, with standalone shops as well as coffeehouses tucked inside grocery stores, hotels, big box retailers, diners and entertainment venues.
Caribou offers an inventory of espressos, shakers, fresh-brewed traditional blends, hot chocolate, mocha malts and caffeinated “Bou” beverages. The food menu includes muffins, bagels, waffle sandwiches, breakfast wraps on pesto flatbread and other breakfast staples.
Club sandwiches, grilled cheese, ham and swiss croissants are among the lunch fare.
Saber and Rogers founded Manna Development in San Diego in 2003. Saber is a former McDonald’s franchisee and Rogers was an executive with the Ford Motor Company. They operate Manna Development under the golden rule, “serve others as you would like to be served.”
The franchise groups joins the burgeoning coffee chain at a time of expansion. Earlier this week, Caribou Coffee announced plans to open more than 300 new locations through franchising agreements.
