Two New Cabin Coffee Locations Open in Iowa

Two Iowa communities are now home to new Cabin Coffee locations: Ames and Cresco. What makes both unique is they are the first of their kind, which reflects the flexibility, franchise owner involvement, and strategic growth that’s become a tenet of Cabin Coffee franchising.

The new Ames location is the second Cabin Coffee in the college town of about 67,000. The first Ames location opened in 2018 and is still owned and managed by franchisees Paul and Tammy Jacobson. The Jacobsons saw an opportunity to grow their business by opening a second location within their busy medical center. The Mary Greeley Medical Center location offers a more limited menu but is ideal for the location and the customer base.

The Cabin Coffee Cresco location is our first drive-through-only model, Cabin Coffee Express. It requires a smaller footprint (approximately ¼ acre), making it ideal for a range of locations, from small towns like Cresco (population: 4,000) to larger metro areas. It also offers a more limited menu and requires fewer employees due to its smaller size. The drive-through only is a fast-growing segment of the coffee business as more customers appreciate the convenience and speed of a smaller kiosk-style coffee shop.

Brad Barber, Cabin Coffee’s co-founder and CEO says the two new locations reflect the flexibility Cabin Coffee offers its franchisees. “Two of the unique benefits of being a Cabin Coffee franchise owner are versatility and freedom. We trust our franchisees to grow their business as they see fit. Whether that’s a second location, selling bags of beans in retail locations, or offering specific menu items—we’re very open to all of it,” said Barber. “We believe the franchise owners know their area best and are in the best position to serve their customers with the products, services, and conveniences that are important to them and their community.”

Another new location is slated for opening later this fall in Columbia, Tennessee. It will be a full-line, full-service location within the Student Center at Columbia State Community College. It will be a second location for Columbia, and the 26th Cabin Coffee location.