N.J. coffee chain with fanatical following eyes big expansion

Rook Coffee will be opening its newest store in Point Pleasant Borough. (Rob Spahr)

Caffeine fanatics in New Jersey, get ready.

Rook Coffee Roasters has announced big plans for New Jersey in 2018, opening its first store outside Monmouth County and hoping to land on grocery store shelves across the state.

The coffee shop is debuting its first store outside Monmouth County in the summer, launching its 12th store, in Point Pleasant Borough, it announced on Facebook.

The roaster will be taking over a Dunkin' Donuts in Bridge Plaza on Bridge Avenue.

"We're so excited, it's a big one. When you get to 10 stores, it feels special," said co-founder Holly Migliaccio. "But the 12th being outside of Monmouth, leaving what you would consider our roots, it feels bigger."

The decision comes after going through the hundreds of requests for new locations, finding demand for a Point Pleasant location was "tremendous," she said.

"When we receive that demand and we're able to fulfill that want, it makes us feel so good to make people happy," she said.

This will be the second location Rook will open in 2018, with a Freehold store under construction set to open in April. But the coffee shop has more in the works.

But before looking for a 13th location, Migliaccio and co-founder Shawn Kingsley are working to get their coffee in grocery stores.

"We can get the coffee on the shelves and give everyone access to it and meet that demand," Migliaccio said.

Known for its hipster vibes, strong coffee and signature black crow logo, Rook Coffee Roasters was founded in 2010, and quickly amassed a following of millennials and coffee connoisseurs.

Those who were previously traveling miles to get their Rook Coffee are ecstatic the coffee house is expanding.

Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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