Coffee Pot perks on

Alexandria, Candace and Mike Hughes, new owners of The Coffee pot.

By BOB MOREHEAD
BGNN senior staff writer

BARBERTON  Summit County’s oldest diner will go on.

The Coffee Pot, serving up hot tasty breakfasts since 1923, has new owners and they told BGNN they expect to reopen sometime this summer.

“The earlier we open, the better,” Mike Hughes said.

The previous owners, Menda and Ken Ramsey, announced in May 2024 they were going to retire and were in search of a new owner.
A successor eluded them through the intervening 18 months and they finally served up their last plate last Christmas Eve.

Enter Mike and his wife, Candace, a pair of caterers, Barberton-born and -bred. They needed a new commercial kitchen and uncovered an opportunity to rescue their past in the process.

“We get to keep this here for the Barberton and Summit County folks,” Candace said. “It is a nostalgic staple and it just felt right.”
“Barberton gave us a hard foundation and trained us back then,” Mike said.

“We learned our work ethic here,” Candace added.

Mike said the couple doesn’t plan to change much.

A beloved breakfast institution isn’t “broke” so doesn’t need fixing. The flat-top grill where a century of eggs, sausage, bacon and hash was cooked up in front of the patrons will remain, if regulations permit. A lot has changed in 100 years.

“We’re grandfathered in on a lot of things but ultimately that’s up to the health department.”

Mike said the workers in town, like BWXT, have put forward some requests.

“We’re going to add some larger portions and spicier offerings,” he said.

He said they will open occasional evenings and offer up the barbecue their catering business has become known for, perhaps during Main Street Barberton’s Fourth Friday events.

The breakfast that built a century of tradition will continue but the couple plans to build on that.

“I want this to be a gathering place,” Candace said. “I want it to be more than bacon and eggs. I want everyone to feel loved.”

In the meantime, the couple is clearing the standard regulatory hurdles and getting the necessary repairs done.

“The city has been very cooperative,” Candace said.