In the Rogue Valley, where coffee drive-throughs are as ubiquitous as stoplights and espresso the beverage of choice, talk of another chain coming to town might produce a yawn.
But there’s a land of opportunity beyond the Cascades and Siskiyous, and the owners of the Human Bean coffee chain are just beginning to tap into the possibilities.
“Outside this area the coffee drive-through market is largely undeveloped,” said Dan Hawkins, one of four founding partners. “Here, there’s good, friendly competition, but you just don’t see that in other parts of the country yet.”
Dan Hawkins and another St. Mary’s High School alum, Tom Casey, and their wives, Tami Casey and Rhonda Hawkins, launched the Human Bean in 1998. Dan Hawkins had worked in his family’s Tiger Mart and Gas for Less convenience stores. Tom Casey had been in construction equipment sales before they teamed up. Rhonda and Dan Hawkins launched their enterprise across from Butler Ford outside of Ashland in June and then on July 4, Tami and Tom Casey opened a stand on Pine Street in Central Point.
The Ashland and Central Point locations grossed about $500,000 in sales the first year. Last year, Human Bean revenue was in the $5.5 million neighborhood and it’s projected to grow close to $6.5 million this year.
There are now 28 locations in operation and 10 more will be opened by the end of 2007. The company employs 90 people, including seven in its Rossanley Drive headquarters.
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