Biggby at Bailey’s Discount Center is part of the BIGGBY® COFFEE chain of coffee shops. However, the Biggby at Bailey’s goes beyond the expected to the wonderfully unexpected.
Someone visiting for the first time might arrive expecting the company’s signature farm-direct coffee bean drinks that are the foundation of the BIGGBY ® COFFEE brand, and they would find them. Indeed, the Biggby at Bailey’s baristas make every coffee drink from scratch, from the White Lightning Latte to the Espresso Macchiato. There is also a kids’ menu with crowd pleasers including Magic Milk, flavored hot “steamers” and, for a truly decadent choice, a cup of whipped cream.
And it doesn’t stop there. Biggby at Bailey’s has a mouth-watering menu of sweet and savory items to complete your order, such as the Coffee Cake Muffin and Toasted Cheese Ciabatta. Spring featured items include White Chocolate Macadamia Latte and Hot Honey Bacon Grilled Cheese.
Not only does Biggby at Bailey’s offer an extensive menu of specialty drinks and delicious food items, but the spacious lobby within Bailey’s Discount Center also allows Owner Katie Holland the opportunity to make their Biggby truly unique, by welcoming guests into an innovative community atmosphere.
“With the overriding values of BIGGBY ® COFFEE as our guide, Biggby at Bailey’s has grown into what I like to refer to as My Biggby, because we incorporate clever ways to connect with our customers,” Holland says.
One way Holland brings people from around the community together is by transforming the lobby space into a platform for local businesses and entrepreneurs, featuring local artist exhibits and live music on the last Friday of each month.
Last October, on a hunch that families would respond to a kid-friendly event, Holland planned a party that she called the “Bluey Event” on social media, and invited parents to bring their child to Biggby at Bailey’s and have fun drinking whimsical, themed drinks and take photos with Bluey cutouts. What started as an experimental event exploded into a family favorite, and more than 200 parents and kids attended from communities as far as Valparaiso and Fort Wayne.
Since then, Holland has held more events, which tap her creativity and commitment to the community. Past events included “Galentine’s Tea and Flowers,” when Holland partnered with a local florist to offer a make-your-own-bouquet class while enjoying a favorite tea. Another popular event was the “Valentine’s Day Date Night” with coffee flights and live music, aligning the vibe of Biggby at Bailey’s as a sort of craft brewery approach to coffee. Holland took her ideas offsite for the festive holiday event “Photos with Santa” at Five Buds Farm, when she again partnered with a local photographer to make it a truly memorable day for families.
Holland advertises events with signage in the lobby and on the shop’s Facebook and Instagram pages, which are the most active sources for news and events at Biggby at Bailey’s. Their app also contains up-to-date menu items and specials. Ads for Biggby at Bailey’s are also on WKVI radio.
Holland had four years of experience as a barista at a national coffee shop chain before she opened Biggby at Bailey’s with her husband, Jake, and father, Matt Bailey, in 2020, at a time when COVID-19 forced many businesses to close. The team at Biggby at Bailey’s kept the doors open, learned how to meet people where they were, and won loyal customers they now refer to as fanatics.
Two years ago, when Holland and Jake were married, they bought out her father’s portion of the business to take on full ownership. Jake came to the business with a background in restaurants and sales, and the couple brought a winning mix of prioritizing quality products and thoughtful guest experience. They welcomed their son, Motley, last year, and he has become part of the family atmosphere that sets the tone for customers visiting Biggby at Bailey’s.
With four years, one pandemic and a soon-to-be toddler in tow, and Holland knows that one of the key components to the shop’s success is the dedicated team of baristas.
“Our baristas, most of whom have been with us since we opened four years ago, are a key component to the success of the shop,” she says.
Holland credits a former manager from her early days as a barista for modeling good management, and she draws on those characteristics in building a healthy workspace with a culture of respect and fun. Recently, Holland took some of the baristas to the annual corporate BIGGBY Summit, where they met coffee bean farmers from around the world who are fulfilling the BIGGBY ® COFFEE mission. Another way Holland nurtures team engagement is by organizing events outside of working hours. The group might meet for dinner or attend a South Bend Cubs game, all in the name of fueling friendship beyond the barista bar.
So it’s no surprise that the Biggby at Bailey’s team is right there to help as Holland and her husband plan the upcoming opening of BaileyTown Burgers, in adjacent store space in the Discount Center lobby. The burger joint is scheduled to open by the end of this year, but the many hours of preparation and planning have already begun, and whether the task at hand is reorganizing shelving or rearranging fixtures, it’s an all-in attitude among everyone.
“The extra work is a great way for someone wanting to log more hours in the week, and everyone seems to enjoy the variety of projects,” Holland says. BaileyTown Burgers will offer classic American food including burgers, hot dogs, fries and chicken fingers. Watch the Biggby at Bailey’s Facebook and Instagram pages for more information about the opening in the coming months.
You can learn more about all the specialty menu items and fun events on Facebook and Instagram @biggbyatbaileys. For additional information and to place an online order, download their app by searching BIGGBY COFFEE and choosing the North Judson location.
Biggby at Bailey’s is located in Bailey’s Discount Center at 5900 South Range Road in North Judson, and can be reached at 574-896-6015.
