Store History

River Road Coffeehouse-Newark opened in December 2006 as the second coffeehouse for the Forman Family.  Their success in the original Granville location prompted the father-son team to explore a commercial location on the busy 21st Street shopping corridor in northern Newark.  The store operates out of a brick and glass single story structure that was built in the sixties and was home to the Licking County Savings Bank.

In 2004, Huntington National Bank purchased Unizan Bank which then occupied the structure and sold the building to a local investor given the existing branch Huntington already operated just north on 21st Street.

The original renovation included removing office partitions and replacing the carpet and tile with a stained concrete finish.  In addition, the bank teller drive-up window was replaced with a retail store drive-thru.  In 2014, the interior space was updated to provide a more intimate customer seating and service area.

Creating a sense of community in the midst of a commercial shopping area dominated by national retailers and big-box stores has been a challenge for a local business.  However, the store has achieved partnerships with schools, churches and other organizations and has become a popular meeting spot for locals in recent years.  When the Formans announced plans in 2014 to open their fourth coffeehouse in downtown Newark, they took great pains to make sure store patrons understood their commitment to the 21st Street Store remained firm!