It took the entire community of Carroll by surprise on Monday when Todd and Chico Kanne announced they were closing MAC’s Corner Café after 12 years of service. They assured patrons that this decision was not made lightly, and the new owners of that space along the Highway 30 corridor, Country Stores of Iowa, also wants to assure customers that the changes they are proposing will incorporate some of the very best things MAC’s had to offer. CEO, Steve Kimmes, says the first thing they want to do is thank the customers for their years of support. He says they understand how loyal people can be, especially to a specific brew of coffee.
The Kanne’s have been the landlords for the Country Store in the BP Plaza for the past three years, and Kimmes says they began discussing the sale over the past 30 to 45 days. Circumstances beyond everyone’s control, according to Kimmes, expedited that process. The Country Store and the Kannes had really been looking at the best way to utilize the real estate, and have determined that in today’s business environment, that would be a contemporary convenience store. Kimmes says he thinks they can leverage three things in that space: technology; fresh food; and even more conveniences.
The expansion of the fresh food offerings, the coffee-style gathering place, the integration of technology and the ambiance are really what Kimmes says will be the most compelling components here in Carroll. He says the Market on 30 will remain in operation and explains what customers will see in the future Country Store/BP Plaza.
Kimmes says that parts of the renovation process will start very soon with completion expected in 2018. They will remain open during the renovation.
