Bounce Innovation Hub Selects Locally Owned Stray Dog Café as New Café and Coffee Shop Operators
AKRON, Ohio (Aug. 12, 2021) – Bounce Innovation Hub is thrilled to announce it has selected Akron’s Stray Dog Café to operate the hub’s first-floor café, coffee shop and event catering business.
Stray Dog Café at Bounce will continue to feature a full coffee shop menu, pastries, made-to-order and grab-and-go lunches, with vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, as well as catering services. They also offer their own line of condiments and Stray Dog merchandise. An exact start date and hours of operation are still being determined; however, the café at Bounce continues operations, Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
“We are so excited about bringing Stray Dog Café to Bounce. It’s an amazing place with an amazing vision for business and for Akron,” said Charly Murphy, founder and director of operations. “We are delighted to partner with Bounce in support of a mutual love for our city and shared desire to make it even better than it already is.”
Stray Dog currently operates two locations at each end of downtown Akron, at the Akron-Summit County Public Library and in the AES Building lobby, both on Main Street. They also operate multiple hot dog carts, food trucks and other food-service venues throughout the Akron area, including The Akron Pickle.
“Stray Dog is exactly the type of locally owned food business and entrepreneur that we were seeking in a new café operator,” said Doug Weintraub, Bounce CEO. “Charly is a visionary with big goals that align with ours to make Bounce a go-to destination in Akron. We are excited for them to open the doors.”
With the original operators, Dan and Valerie Remark, leaving the coffee shop business to concentrate on their diner in Barberton, Bounce released an RFP in June inviting food entrepreneurs, chefs, caterers or established local businesses, or combination of, to submit a proposal.
“Thank you to everyone who threw their hat in the ring,” said Weintraub. “We spoke with several outstanding candidates with promising careers ahead of them. We have also extended entrepreneurial services to those just starting out and needing some support. We are encouraged by the landscape for food entrepreneurship in Akron.”
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Bounce Innovation Hub was founded in January 2018 and serves northeast Ohio entrepreneurs, startups and small businesses. Located in downtown Akron, Bounce stands on the foundation of Akron’s first wave of innovation and industry in a former B.F. Goodrich tire plant. Bounce operates a 300,000 square foot facility that includes private offices and lab space, co-working, event and conference room space. With more than 50 organizations in the building, Bounce accounts for more than 300 people working and creating in a vibrant environment.