New Coffee Shop Coming to Hilltop Business Center in St. Joseph

Five Lakes Coffee to open drive-through location in vacant lot, adding greenery to the area.

Mar. 19, 2026 at 7:00am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new coffee shop, Five Lakes Coffee, is set to open in a vacant lot at the Hilltop Business Center in St. Joseph, Michigan. The 1,992 square foot drive-through coffee shop will include outdoor seating and additional parking. The St. Joe City Commissioners approved a special use permit for the project, which will bring more greenery and landscaping to the otherwise utilitarian area.

Why it matters

The new coffee shop is expected to serve the growing number of workers in the Hilltop Business Center and surrounding offices, providing a convenient option for coffee and refreshments. The addition of greenery and landscaping is also seen as a welcome improvement to the area.

The details

Five Lakes Coffee, which has locations in Kalamazoo and Sturgis, will be constructing the new drive-through coffee shop in a vacant part of the Hilltop Business Center parking lot. The 1,992 square foot building will include outdoor seating and a drive-through aisle. The city planning commission had previously approved the plan, and the city commission unanimously voted to grant the special use permit.

  • The St. Joe City Commissioners approved the special use permit this week.
  • Construction on the new coffee shop is expected to begin soon.

The players

Five Lakes Coffee

A coffee shop chain with locations in Kalamazoo and Sturgis, Michigan, that is opening a new drive-through location at the Hilltop Business Center in St. Joseph.

Hilltop Business Center

A business park located in St. Joseph, Michigan, that is home to a growing number of offices and will be the site of the new Five Lakes Coffee shop.

Dalton Castle

The Zoning Administrator for the City of St. Joseph, who presented the Five Lakes Coffee proposal to the city commissioners.

Lisa Vetne

A St. Joseph city commissioner who welcomed the addition of the coffee shop and its accompanying landscaping improvements.

Tim Zebell

The City Engineer for St. Joseph, who noted the city's previous unsuccessful attempts to install a sidewalk in the area.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We can't say this very often, but this is an example. When the construction's done, there'll be more green, less pavement, which is nice... The trees proposed look nice.”

— Lisa Vetne, St. Joseph City Commissioner

“The applicant's request is to construct a 1,992 square foot drive-through coffee restaurant with associated outdoor seating and parking lot with a drive-through aisle, as discussed.”

— Dalton Castle, Zoning Administrator

What’s next

Construction on the new Five Lakes Coffee shop is expected to begin soon after the city's approval of the special use permit.

The takeaway

The addition of a new coffee shop at the Hilltop Business Center in St. Joseph is seen as a positive development, providing a convenient option for workers in the area while also improving the aesthetics of the site through new landscaping and greenery.