New Hamilton coffee shop planned for High Street

This is an overhead view of the proposed coffee shop, in the shaded area, on High Street in Hamilton, just west of Ohio 4. PROVIDED

This is an overhead view of the proposed coffee shop, in the shaded area, on High Street in Hamilton, just west of Ohio 4. PROVIDED

City Council is selling a property on High Street to a developer for $1 so that company, Hamilton High Holdings LLC, can develop a coffee shop with an estimated $500,000 investment.

City documents identify the tenant as Biggby Coffee, which would occupy a 1,500-square-foot building. The property is east of the Wingstop at 1029 High St.

Biggby is based in East Lansing, Mich., and began with one store in 1995. There now are more than 240. It says it differentiates itself from other gourmet coffee brands by offering pronounceable names like Teddy Bear and Caramel Marvel.

Hamilton owns the property to be sold for the needs of the city’s utilities, Aaron Hufford, chief of staff to City Manager Joshua Smith, wrote in a memo to council. But the property sale will not affect the city’s utility needs or access to that area of the property.

The property was one of two Hamilton sold to developers for $1 in exchange for more than $500,000 in investments. The other was the building and land at 501, 509 and 515 Main St., where a developer plans to create a craft brewery and outdoor entertainment space, with parking for food trucks, plus an upstairs apartment at 501 Main St.

While many companies have been pulling back on development during the economic challenges created by the coronavirus crisis, Hamilton development seems to have been buffered by the under-construction Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill indoor sports complex and convention center, due to open in December of 2021.

Cincinnati-based Hamilton High Holdings has been redeveloping the strip shopping center next to the proposed coffee shop. The Wingstop store recently was added, with others planned, the city said.

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