Despite Closures Elsewhere, Caribou Coffee ‘Full Speed Ahead’ With Plans to Build in Oakdale

While Caribou Coffee is set to close 80 stores later this month, its plans to build a new shop in Oakdale are “full speed ahead,” according to a company spokeswoman.

The Brooklyn Center-based coffee company earlier this week announced plans to shutter the shops. Three of those will be in Minnesota, according to a statement from Mike Tattersfield, president and CEO, provided to Patch.

Company officials would not say exactly which stores will be closed.

Meanwhile, groundbreaking on the new Oakdale Caribou, at Highway 36 and Century Avenue, was to begin soon, but weather delayed construction at the old Kwik Stop gas station, the spokeswoman said.

The Oakdale City Council in June approved the site plan for the new Caribou, and the company has been moving ahead with the building process, according to City Planner Whitney Ridlon.

“From everything we can see … they’re still moving forward,” she said.

There has been some concern about traffic at the site.

Councilman Paul Reinke last June visited the location, and while he agreed it’s a busy intersection, he said the new Caribou is appropriate for that corner. 

“There are traffic issues,” Reinke told Patch at the time. “There’s also a building there that’s sorely outdated and this proposal brings a really attractive building and meets our goals of getting rid of the unsightly ones.”

Once complete, it will be the third Caribou Coffee in Oakdale, following the one at the Oakdale Village Shopping Center and the Bergen Plaza location, which opened in October 2012.

City Council Approves New Caribou Coffee Site

Planning Commission Approves Caribou Coffee Site Plans

Construction Set for Third Caribou Coffee Site in Oakdale

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