PLYMOUTH — It’s hard to beat the charm of a cozy coffee shop.
Whether you opt for the big leather sofa in the shop’s central sitting area or retreat to one of the first or second story nooks, Plymouth’s newest coffee shop makes a person feel at home.
Before going much further, I want to make it clear I’m no food columnist — that beat is best left in the hands of Shelbi Evans, our resident food columnist. But seriously, check out Evans’ work to discover some great local food and drink.
If there’s one thing I love though, it’s a unique coffee shop. The Coffee House in Plymouth, which opened its doors to customers on Nov. 17 at 208 Sandusky St., is the latest I’ve ventured to. I’m already planning my next trip back.
Bruce Tanner, co-owner of The Coffee House, purchased the 208 Sandusky St. house in 2020 from the Huron County Land Bank for $25,000. What began as a home remodel transformed into a new vision four years later, Tanner said after a ribbon cutting ceremony on Dec. 3.
His friend, Katie Snook, co-owns the business.
“We’ve always wanted to have a coffee house,” Tanner said. “This kind of worked out.”
In June 2024, I attended a public zoning hearing related to The Coffee House. At that time, Tanner’s parcel of land needed to be rezoned from residential (R-2) to business (B-2) in order for the project to progress.
I remember Tanner and Snook explaining how they wanted the Sandusky Street business to be a place where customers felt welcome to “stay forever” and not just a few moments.
As drink samples were passed around during the early December ribbon cutting, it was easy to see how you could get lost in your own world while sipping on your favorite beverage.
Tanner said several of the design elements were repurposed items from the house and around Plymouth. His grandmother’s desk is a featured piece on the second floor.
“I’ve done a lot of projects in the past where I’ve just thrown everything out, but that’s not really how it should be done. I’ve learned that,” Tanner said.
‘We want people to stay’ — Bruce Tanner
Since opening to customers on Nov. 17, Tanner said the shop has stayed busy. The Coffee House has already built a following of nearly 3,000 on its Facebook page.
“There are some days we’ve had to shut down the drive-thru,” he said. “It’s been a lot for a new business.”
But while The Coffee House is new to the scene, Snook is the veteran. She’s been in the coffee business for 19 years. Snook’s mother and two of her aunts own Wired Coffee Bar in nearby Willard.
Snook said she began working at Wired Coffee Bar in 2006 after graduating from high school and just recently stopped to begin her own journey with The Coffee House.
Together, Tanner and Snook have created a space for friends, family and strangers to gather in a comfortable space.
“We want people to stay. A lot of times you go to a business and you feel like, ‘Well, I’ve got to leave now,’” Tanner said. “We want people to come and stay forever basically, not in a creepy way.”
The Coffee House menu features a variety of drinks, including espresso, brewed coffee and plenty of choices for non-coffee drinkers (like tea, smoothies, hot chocolate and even dirty soda).
Customers also have their choice from a wide spread of bakery items, including everything from cookies and muffins to cinnamon rolls, pumpkin roll and gluten-free brownies.
While at the ribbon cutting, I tried the once-a-year seasonal drink, Christmas in the Village — which pays a fitting nod to the village’s annual two-day Christmas festival straight out of a Hallmark movie.
The drink blends white chocolate and peppermint and is topped with crushed peppermint candies. If dressed up holiday beverages aren’t your thing, there’s plenty of brewed coffee to enjoy like The Coffee House signature blend.
The Coffee House is open for business at 208 Sandusky St. from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
