Mount Pleasant residents who love Biggby Coffee are out of luck.

On Monday, the East Lansing-based chain coffee shop closed the 4445 E. Blue Grass Road location in Union Township.

People who have since come to get their coffee have found the doors locked and lights off with a notice taped to building.

“I was surprised,” said Brenda Young, a Mount Pleasant resident. “I want to know what happened to my Biggbys.”

Lansing junior Phillip Marlow worked as a barista at the location since its opening in February 2008.

Marlow said the store went out of business because owner Mike Densmore could not afford to pay the rent on the lease and the landlord was unable to renegotiate the rent price.

“We couldn’t afford to stay there with what we were making,” Marlow said.

He said at least a dozen people worked at the location and they may be eligible to be rehired if the franchise reopens in town.

Franchise owner Densmore expressed his sentiment to the community in a note he taped to the glass door.

“Please know that this decision was not an easy one and that significant measures were taken in hopes of averting the closure. I have enjoyed serving you for the past 12-plus months.”

Densmore was unable to be reached for comment.

David Dunville, an employee at the Target Starbucks, 4097 E. Blue Grass Road, said they were bombarded with customers during Monday night because of Biggby’s sudden closure.

“People were asking not only for coffee but also a bunch of drinks they had and we didn’t,” he said.

According to the note on the door, continued discussions are taking place and it’s possible that Biggby Coffee will reopen at the same location under different ownership.

Corporate is also in discussion with another prospective Biggby franchisee that is considering a different location within Mount Pleasant.

Marlow said although he feels Biggby offers a better product than other coffee retailers, the location could have been better.

“It was a really cool work environment,” he said. “We all miss our jobs and our customers a lot.”

Georgianne Gennette, the co-owner of The Daily Grind, 112 N Main St., said that the tough economy is forcing people to be tighter with their spending and small specialty shops are suffering.

“It’s unfortunate,” she said. “It’s a tough time for any small business.”

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E-mail the author: Joe Borlik