Troy Metzger and Joshua Mitchell took ownership of the Youngstown-area cafe on Nov. 6. They renamed the business Denizen Coffee after a year of succession planning with Branch Street Coffee Roasters founders Matthew and Kristin Campbell. The deal did not disclose financial terms.
New owners and wholesale ties
Metzger has worked at Branch Street for more than 10 years, while Mitchell joined six years ago. Both men managed daily operations for approximately three years before this transition. Matthew Campbell approached them about taking ownership because his time demands increased through Invoke Coffee Equipment, his separate espresso equipment sales, service and support business.
"With Troy and Joshua doing so well in their leadership roles, I asked them if they ever had a desire to take over ownership and develop the cafe in their own vision," Campbell told Daily Coffee News. The Campbells will continue to operate Branch Street Coffee Roasters as a wholesale roasting company from their Glenwood production facility. Denizen will remain a wholesale customer, brewing Branch Street coffees and offering retail bags in the cafe and online.
Familiar menu and staff
The shop at 1393 Boardman-Canfield Rd in Boardman, Ohio, keeps the existing staff and menu. Denizen will also honor Branch Street gift cards and loyalty rewards. Campbell said the sale was a "simple decision" because the business had a long-term staff of passionate coffee professionals. While the cafe launched in 2015, Food & Wine named it the "best coffee" in Ohio in 2019. The roasting business also receives high scores from Coffee Review.
