Mitchell Harvey sold the popular Mitchell’s Coffee House to Lakeland residents Mark and Saundra Biddinger last week.
What it means to you: Saundra Biddinger, 51, will run the shop. It will continue to bear Mitchell’s name, serve breakfast and lunch, and host special evening events. Biddinger wants Lakelanders to be assured that she does not plan to change the menu or staff. You’ll still be able to get your chicken salad sandwiches, soup of the day and Cocoa Cola Cake.
“We love Lakeland and we love Mitchell’s,” Biddinger said during a mid-morning rush. “We were looking for a place to plant our feet firmly in Lakeland.”
Who are the Biddingers? Mark Biddinger, 55, is the chief financial officer for the Lakeland Area Mass Transit District, which operates the Citrus Connection. Saundra was in the health care profession for 26 years. The couple moved to Lakeland in 2017 when he became senior director of finance and treasury at Southeastern University. They have seven children, one of whom is a rising senior at George Jenkins High School and another a rising junior at SEU.
The deal: Biddinger said she and her husband didn’t set out to buy the coffee shop. They are friends with Harvey and met with him at the end of March, when he proposed the deal. She declined to say how much they paid for the business.
Harvey could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
The back story: Harvey, 56, and his then-wife Michelle started the coffee shop in 1998. It immediately filled a niche in the community and became a place for a wide variety of Lakeland residents to have their morning coffee and chat with friends. The Harveys have been dedicated to featuring local artists and original artwork in the shop. Their youngest son, Matthew, graduated from high school this month and will continue to work in the shop. Mitchell also runs the Lakeland Water Ski Club, which has periodic shows on Lake Hollingsworth.
Where and when: The shop is located at 235 N. Kentucky Ave. and is open Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is closed on Sundays.
