Matthew Taylor has been drinking Biggby Coffee since the chain’s first cafe opened in his hometown of East Lansing.

This year, he will to pursue his dream of owning his very own Biggby Coffee franchise.

A self proclaimed “cafe kid,” Taylor will open a new Mount Pleasant Biggby Coffee in August at 210 S. Mission St., in the north half of the old Isabella County Credit Union building.

The site is near the corner of Mission Broadway streets, across from a Speedway gas station.

“We want to give the community a fantastic setting for a relaxing and enjoyable social spot,” Taylor said.

The news comes just a week after the Union Township Biggby Coffee, 4445 E. Blue Grass Road, closed its doors last week.

Employees at the old location said the shop closed because the customer traffic wasn’t enough to maintain rent. A note on the door said it is possible the location would re-open.

Taylor signed a lease on the location with D & D Real Estate and Development, LLC last week.

He has big plans for the location and said his Biggby will be more than just another cafe. He wants a drive-thru, an ATM machine, two outdoor patios and an ice cream parlor to move into the south half of the building.

A possible bus stop at the location for students also is consideration, he said.

“I insist on being more than just another storefront that wants to take your money,” Taylor said.

He said approval from the Health Department is nearly completed.

David Lapham of D & D Real Estate and Development, LLC, is leasing the space to Taylor.

Lapham is looking forward to the location’s future plans and said a gift shop or flower store may be built on the building’s east side.

“It’ll be a nice place to just kind of hang out,” Lapham said. “We’re excited to be part of it – it’ll be a pleasant atmosphere.”

Chelsea Good, a Plymouth senior and employee at Let’s Do the Dishes, 100 S. Mission St., just a short walk from the future Biggby location, said a new coffee shop would be great for the area.

“I think our businesses would go hand-in-hand,” she said. “Customers can get a coffee and then come in and paint. I’d probably stop there on my way to work.”

Remus senior Krista Jacobson said she was really bummed out when the Blue Grass Road location closed.

“It was my favorite place to go and get coffee.”

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E-mail the author: Joe Borlik