Wild Bird and Biggby

continued

"It's all about the coffee," she says firmly of her and the Lansing company's philosophy. "And we don't just want to serve you a cup of coffee. We want you to leave in a better mood." Mickeleit says it's no accident that when you walk in the door, the first person to catch your eye is the cashier, who will "point you in the right direction and walk you through the experience." Not so important is the food--the pastries, bagels, and bagel sandwiches are "add-ons," she says candidly, "from Sysco." Mickeleit is confident that people don't come to coffee shops for the food--they come for the lattes, especially one called the "Caramel Marvel."

Mickeleit says she's looking into another Ann Arbor location but hasn't signed anything yet. "The market is definitely ready for it," she says.

Biggby Coffee, 1741 Plymouth. (Courtyard Shops). 222-7030. Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 7 a.m.-9 p.m. www.biggby.com   

[Originally published in November, 2009.]