Biggby Coffee opens in downtown Hamilton

Dustin and Amy Hepburn open their first shop in Butler County

Coffee lovers in Butler County are about to have another option.

The county’s first Biggby Coffee shop is opening Tuesday in downtown Hamilton. It will be the third location for franchisee’s Dustin and Amy Hepburn, who live in Loveland.

Dustin Hepburn, a former Realtor, and his wife, a former second-grade teacher, operate locations in Loveland and Cincinnati and plan to open their fourth location in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Oakley in the spring of 2022, she said.

Amy Hepburn called the 800-square-foot High Street location “very appealing and a good opportunity” because there are no Starbucks or Dunkin’ Donuts in the area. The location offers drive-thru and carryout service, she said.

“The city is growing so much and it’s a close-knit community,” she said.

Dan Bates, executive director of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, attended the ribbon-cutting Monday morning. He said the city was “thrilled” to add Biggby to the list of businesses in Hamilton.

“Although they are another coffee and food choice in Hamilton, they will compliment the existing coffee and food establishments in our city,” Bates said. “Our existing businesses are thriving and as new businesses come on-line they are met with quick success in Hamilton. Business is great here now. Hamilton is hot and is great to experience the speed at which this is all happening.”

Bates said the city is “moving forward” just as work continues on Spooky Nook, the mega sports complex that is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the region.

After visiting a friend in Michigan, the Hepburns were introduced to the Biggby Coffee brand. When the brand entered the Cincinnati market 12 years ago, Amy Hepburn quickly became friends with Shanna Novosel, an area representative for the brand, through a book club.

After learning more about the brand, Dustin, 41, and Amy, 40, decided to open a location.

“It was a no-brainer for us to pursue our dream of business ownership with the Biggby Coffee brand seeing as though their model has proven successful,” he said.

There are 13 Biggby locations in the region and 15 more are in development, she said. Founded in 1995, the company has more than 250 locations.

The menu includes hot and cold drinks, breakfast sandwiches and pastries.

Hepburn, who taught for 18 years, said teaching and owning a business are very similar because both involve working with people and training employees.

“I love it,” she said. “We both were ready for a change and it’s great working together.”

The Hepburns are “very involved” in their stores and their children, Grace, 14, a freshman at Loveland High School, and Lukas, 8, a sixth-grader at Loveland Intermediate, attended the ribbon-cutting. Grace works at the Loveland location.


HOW TO GO:

WHAT: Biggby Coffee shop

HOURS: 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

LOCATION: 1055 High St., Hamilton

SERVICE: Drive-through and carryout

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