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St. Joe Entrepreneur Julie Thomsen Adds to Her Restaurant Empire

Former New York Yankee great Yogi Berra would characterize it as “like deja vu all over again,” as St. Joe business entrepreneurs Al Mussman and Julie Thomsen shook hands today to commemorate their second deal in a year’s time in the city’s Courthouse Square commercial district on Main Street. Thomsen, who bought Mussman’s franchise operation of Zoup! and took over 9-months ago will finalize the deal to buy Mussman’s franchise operation of Biggby Coffee just one door away at that same Courthouse Square.

Mussman says, “This is the same dance we did, really almost a year ago to the day.” It’s true, and just as was their fashion back in early 2018, they’ve accomplished the transaction in near record speed, with the final transaction slated for 10am tomorrow, Wednesday, April 10th, and the formal hand-off becomes official with the official closing taking place on May 31st and the store will be the Thomsen’s on June first. They started the whole thing barely three weeks ago, and essentially wrapped it up more than a week ago, allowing Thomsen’s family to proceed with their annual Spring Break travel plans over the last week.

Julie tells me, “It was two full weeks from start to finish of signing papers and getting approvals, so we did it quickly and I’m super excited. I’m blessed that Al chose me. I’m involved in the community, I think the community has been fabulous to me, and it’s been heart-warming to see the response. Our catering is up, and everyone has embraced me at Zoup! and now it’s a family affair.” She also shares undying respect and applause for Zoup! founder & CEO Eric Ersher who has given her outstanding support since taking command.

That’s because, as Julie sums it up, “I talked my husband, Jim Thomsen, into leaving his employment where he has been engaged in the printing industry for 26 years now, almost 18 of them at Walsworth Publishing and its forerunner, IPC.” She adds, “He’s excited, and while it wasn’t his plan to be a barista, he’s pumped and I’m excited to work with him, and I think we can create this next chapter of lives also.”

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Together they will run separate businesses in separate buildings, with just one other business between them, and home is only a mile away for both. It’s even more of a family affair when you take into consideration that Thomsen’s daughers Dylan and Demi both work at Zoup! while their son attends Calvin College in Grand Rapids.

Mussman says the journey really began with his sense that he’s got a good thing, but perhaps it was time to move on to “the next thing.” He says, “I did a little bit of advertising in the Biggby community, wondering what’s the store worth, and thinking about moving onto the next chapter.” He adds, “It started to very gradually gain some interest and then one person came through and when I told Julie about it, because she said ‘if you’re ever interested in selling, I’d like to be considered,’ it all started to fall into place.

Al notes, “Somebody else was pursuing it with vigor, a really robust attempt to buy me out, but I circled back to Julie because of her stated interest, even though she was thinking like in maybe another four or five years.” Neverthless, he says, “The other party was actively pursuing it and I said, ‘I think I’m gonna do it,’ and that’s when she stepped in.”

For Julie’s part, she says, “With only nine months in action at Zoup!  I didn’t think I would be able to do it if I didn’t have my great team in place including, Alexa my General Manager, Margo my Assistant Manager, and a great group of shift leaders all of which were here with Al, and that’s what’s been great, we have kept 100-percent of the staff.” Essentially she says, Zoup! is in great shape, where she’s working four days a week in house, “because I think owner presence is very important.” When Al stepped up she admits, “I had to go home for a moment and think about it, and I was actually a little overwhelmed, but I don’t want to miss the opportunity.”

Both Julie & Jim Thomsen will head to barista and franchisee training with the team at Biggby, she for three weeks and he for a full six weeks after which Mondays will be their “office day” to accomplish payroll and accounting, with, as Julie puts it, “The help of some great CPAs and bookkeepers,” and then Tuesdays through Fridays they’ll actually be in the stores operating their businesses as hands on operators. Julie adds, “I think that’s important, and it’s fun. I’m thankful that Al gave me the opportunity to do this.”

Biggby is anchored at 111 Main Street and Zoup! is at 119 Main, and between the two they will have about 35 employees.

It all started locally on January 25, 2011 when Al started Biggby and four years later launched Zoup! nearly next door. He sold that operation to Julie last year and now creating an encore with Biggby. Julie admits, “I think God has a plan for me. In my own mind — this is really crazy — but if this all goes smoothly, I think that if doors open for you, you take the step.” She adds, “I think it’s a great time for my husband to join the family business and we can build something together which is exciting.”

For Al, it’s all bittersweet, saying, “I’m overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude and looking forward to the next thing. I’m just really grateful for Biggby Coffee, Bob Fish starting it all in 1995, and all the operators that have paved the way in both of the franchises, and being able to start these deals. My neighbors in the Biggby Coffee business, Tara & Kim from South Haven, Kyle in Kalamazoo, were a big help, and wonderful people.”

Regarding his heir apparent, the two have created some magic in the heart of St. Joe. He has great respect for Julie, saying, “She brings things to the table that I just don’t have, and is making it good for the community and the kids that work there, and I’ve had a wonderful array of people that have helped me at Biggby Coffee from the very start, people like Zach, Kaitlyn, and Amanda, Liz, and Emily, and countless others that I remember and some that I’ve forgotten, and I’ve appreciated every single one of them.” He sends a message to all of his team over the years, saying, “I appreciate every last effort, every last thing that you did for me in the Biggby world and becoming a part of this community,” and concludes, “The Thomsens are going to carry it on in a really great new energized way, and I’m grateful.”

As for what’s next for Mussman personally, he admits, “I really don’t know exactly what’s next for me. I’m doing a lot of ruminating, and I have a lot of ideas, and I’m networking and planning because retirement is not something I even understand yet. I don’t play golf, it’s more like croquet when I play, so there will be no retirement for me yet.” Will he stay? “Absolutely staying in Michigan’s Great Southwest. The fact that I’ve been able to get both of these businesses on their feet and then hand them off is great. Zoup! is already better with Julie at the helm, and Biggby will continue to be strong and get better as well. Two wonderful grown ups are going to be here busting their butts to make it happen.”

And so, the new journey begins for both the Thomsen family and for Al & Marilyn Mussman. All the best to all concerned.