(WWJ) - It's been ten years since Caribou Coffee shop experienced a mass exodus from Michigan, but a new move by the franchise will see multiple cafes return to the state.
Caribou Coffee announced that the franchise will open more than 300 locations nationwide, with at least 50 cafes planned for Michigan.
The Minnesota-based coffee company will work alongside Mana Development Group, which currently owns and operates more than two dozen Panera Bread stores in the state, to determine where and when the cafes will open in Michigan.
The nearest Caribou Coffee café Michiganders can experience is in Findlay, Ohio, an hour to two hour drive depending on where you are in Metro Detroit.
Caribou Coffee was founded in 1992, but left Michigan when it was purchased by the German equity firm, JAB Holding Company, in 2013.
The planned cafes will join the only shop still operating on Cleveland Avenue in Stevensville, on Michigan's west side.
"Over the past 30 years, Caribou Coffee has refined and elevated the guest experience through an unwavering commitment to quality, as well as strategic investments in innovation," said John Butcher, president and CEO of Caribou Coffee in a statement.
"With a shared vision and commitment to Caribou's core values, we're thrilled to be further expanding our footprint nationwide alongside such experienced and passionate operators, and we look forward to supporting their success."
According to the company, there are 750 coffee shops in almost a dozen countries.
