As a student at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Greeva Patel loved going to coffee shops.

“I’m not a quiet-study type. I like seeing people hanging out, having beverages and being happy,” she said.

Now, after a career as a project manager overseeing new product development in the pharmaceutical industry, Patel and her husband, Rhytham Dave, a civil engineer, own the new Biggby Coffee at 1110 E. Main St. in East Dundee.

Patel sees coffee shops as places people come to not only for caffeine but for space where they can connect, relax and enjoy themselves. That was something she missed while working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, she said.

That’s also when she decided that, while she liked her job, she wasn’t passionate about it.

“I talked with Rhytham about finding something more fulfilling, and he pushed me to try to do what I love to do. He’s been my backbone,” Patel said.

As fate would have it, Patel saw an ad on Facebook about franchise opportunities with Biggby Coffee. As first-time entrepreneurs, the couple spent a year researching the company and how to start their own business, she said.

That included spending time at the Biggby Coffee near the couple’s home in Plainfield and taking road trips to various Biggby spots in Michigan. The first one opened in East Lansing in 1995, according to an online news release, and there are now more than 430 locations in 13 states, including a shop on Randall Road in Carpentersville.

Patel said that during those site visits she saw a culture where staff connected with customers. She also enjoyed the high-quality coffee and broad menu. Along the way, she learned about the company’s training program, the support group it has for franchise owners and its community focus.

As for choosing East Dundee, Patel said, “It’s the perfect fit for us.” The shop’s location on busy Main Street/Route 72 puts it near a several of other businesses, including a gas station, and in close proximity Route 25.

While it’s a bit of a drive from Plainfield to East Dundee, the location is close enough for her to be hands-on, but far enough away that staff can create a unique identity for it, Patel said.

The couple might move to the area as Patel wants to open as many as five more Biggby shops over the next five years. In addition to the East Dundee area, she’s looking at Aurora, Bolingbrook and Naperville.

She’s also working on arranging fundraisers involving East Dundee police and fire departments and local schools and is looking to support an organization that places pets in new homes. She’s thankful for the support her family and the village have shown her as the business launches, she said.

“My brain is exploding with ideas for giving back to the community,” Patel said.

The East Dundee Biggby Coffee will open at 4:30 a.m. weekdays, 6 a.m. Saturdays and 7 a.m. Sundays. Closing time is 8 p.m. daily.

As for her own favorite coffee shop beverages, it’s hard for her to narrow it down to one, Patel said.

“My go-to is a classic latte,” she said. “I also love our seasonal drinks, like lavender and MelonBerry Blast we have this spring. That’s an iced or frozen drink. I enjoy iced and cold brews, and I love matcha latte.”

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.