Foodservice

MaryLou's Coffee Expanding in R.I. With Shell

Chain opening five shops in Ocean State through deal with Colbea Enterprises
HINGHAM, Mass. -- Marylou's Coffee plans to open five coffee shops in Rhode Island Shell gas stations by the end of 2011, reported The Patriot Ledger. The stations are owned by Colbea Enterprises LLC of Cranston, R.I., which also owns a Pembroke, Mass., Shell station that has housed a Marylou's shop since February.

The first new cafewith the chain's signature coffee and hot pink-and-black motif--is scheduled to open in East Providence by mid-November, with the remaining four to open at three-month intervals in North Providence, Smithfield, Johnston and East Greenwich [image-nocss] in spaces previously occupied by Canadian-based coffee-and-doughnut shop Tim Hortons, the report said.

They will be the first outside of Massachusetts, company owner Marylou Sandry told the newspaper.

Sandry, who opened her flagship cafe in 1986, said the Rhode Island partnership with Colbea Enterprises will mirror the success of the Pembroke location by offering customers the same drive-through service with "easy in and easy out" access via major routes and highways.

Like the Massachusetts shops, the Rhode Island shops' menus will consist of hot, iced and frozen coffees, hot chocolate and an array of pastries, muffins, donuts, bagels and breakfast sandwiches.

Sandry currently operates 24 shops throughout the South Shore and one on Cape Cod, said the report. She will own and operate a total of 30 coffee shops by the end of 2011.

Colbea Enterprises owns, operates and supplies Shell-branded product throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts through a network of company-operated sites, dealer sites and open-dealer sites. It is a joint venture between Motiva Enterprises LLC and East Side Enterprises LLC.

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