From Rockford Independent

by Valerie Clarke

Biggby
Coffee, located at 2745 10 Mile
Road in front of Meijer, opened Nov. 17. It is
currently the 105th store in the Michigan-based franchise. Biggby Coffee began
its first store in East Lansing
in 1995.

Rockford franchise owners Rich Barnes and Bob
Sorum used to frequent the original coffee shop in East Lansing where they owned a travel agency
for 20 years.

“We really wanted to open a coffee shop and fell in love with Rockford,” Barnes
said. “It’s a beautiful little town.”

The business partners have been in the planning stages for their Rockford coffee shop
franchise for the past 18 months.

“Biggby is a great company,” said co-owner Sorum. “We are happy
to be open for business and getting to know the local customers by name.”

Mark Smith, a longtime Biggby customer, is enjoying the convenient store
location in Rockford.

“I really like Biggby Coffee and I am so glad they are now in this
location,” Smith said. “It is very convenient.”

According to Barnes and Sorum, their most popular drinks are hot lattes such as
carmel marvel,
mocha mocha and mellow mellow.

“We offer gourmet coffee in a fun, customer-oriented atmosphere,”
Barnes said.

They also serve quick breakfast items or afternoon snacks, such as bagels,
muffins, brownies and the owners’ favorite: seveb-layer bars.

Biggby’s offers a drive-up window and is an easy jump on or off U.S. 131.