Wooster gets first Caribou Coffee; weekend purchases will help fund Humane Society

The new Caribou Coffee on Cleveland Road in Wooster is hosting a grand opening celebration this weekend. For every transaction on Saturday and Sunday, $1 will be donated to the Wayne county Humane Society.
The new Caribou Coffee on Cleveland Road in Wooster is hosting a grand opening celebration this weekend. For every transaction on Saturday and Sunday, $1 will be donated to the Wayne county Humane Society.

WOOSTER − Could Caribou Coffee be making a comeback in Ohio?

After months of construction and renovations, a Caribou Coffee location in Wooster is celebrating its grand opening with a fundraiser.

On Saturday and Sunday (Nov. 19-20), $1 from every transaction will be donated to the Wayne County Humane Society.

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The coffeehouse has been open all week and serving lines of customers.

However, the official opening date is today, Nov. 17.

Store hours are 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Monday and noon to 8 p.m. Tuesdays.

Caribou Coffee Wooster is located at 1849 Cleveland Road.

More about Caribou Coffee

Wooster restaurateur Mike Mariola spearheaded the effort to bring Caribou Coffee to Ohio after he heard the company was franchising.

At one time, there were at least 32 Caribou Coffee locations around the state, including in the Akron, Canton, Hudson, Macedonia and Solon areas, which either closed or were converted to Peet’s Coffee & Tea around 2013 and soon after — eventually leaving Ohio Caribou Coffee-less.

Now, Mariola owns and operates one of the first Caribou Coffee shops to make a comeback in the state, according to Panera Brands, which owns the coffee chain, with plans to develop locations in the Columbus, Dayton and Cincinnati markets.

"We are honored to be partnering with such a high-quality brand and one that is aligned with our company values," said Mariola in a press release. "We are excited to be bringing Caribou Coffee to Ohio, especially in our hometown of Wooster."

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Measuring under 600 square feet, the light blue-colored cabin design features a drive-thru, walk-up windows and an outdoor patio, according to the release.

They serve all types of coffee and offer flavors like chocolate, vanilla and caramel. Options are available for noncoffee drinkers such as teas. A food menu is also available featuring a variety of breakfast-type sandwiches and baked goods.

If all goes well, Mariola hopes to open locations in Crawford, Ashland, Delaware, Franklin, Marion, Morrow, Richland and Union counties, according to the Mariola Restaurants website.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wooster restaurateur brings Caribou Coffee to Ohio

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