The North Market will soon be getting a new coffee operator as long-operating coffee stand A Touch of Earth closes at the end of June to be replaced with a new Stauf’s location. The Stauf’s expansion is two-fold with simultaneous news that the German Village Cup O Joe is getting a similar rebranding.
“We’ve always supplied coffee to shops at the North Market, which dates back to the Quonset Hut days,” said Stauf’s President Mark Swanson. “We’ve always wanted to open a store in the North Market, and this is a perfect opportunity.”
Swanson said that he’s working closely with Ann Leonard, owner of A Touch of Earth and plans to keep all employees on board who want to stay with the new coffee business. Leonard announced her retirement this morning.
“It is just time,” she said. “I have been with North Market since 1978 when my grandparents owned Camp Chase Poultry. Now I am a grandparent and what to spend time with my grandchildren, family, friends and pursue other interests.”
In addition to brewing, the new North Market Stauf’s will also see the installation of an in-house roaster, which will supply the beans for the coffee served within.
“Because the North Market is so experiential, we feel that would fit perfectly there,” said Swanson. “We’ll also be adding a few other new things along with an updated space with new millwork and branding.”
The transition from A Touch of Earth is not expected to last long, with the new Stauf’s location expected to be up and running in early July.
“We are sad to see Ann leave us after so many years at North Market,” said North Market Executive Director Rick Harrison Wolfe. “She is still known as ‘Chicken Annie’ from her days at her family’s Poultry Shop. However, we could have not asked for a better or more fitting coffee shop to take the reigns. Stauf’s is a best-in-class, Central Ohio original.”
For more information, visit www.staufs.com.