PIQUA— Winans LLC, known as Winans Chocolates + Coffees, will expand its downtown Piqua footprint with the addition of a 6,000 square foot building next to its current production facility that will serve as a coffee roasting facility.

The project is expected to create 6 new jobs and represents a capital investment of more than $600,000. JobsOhio awarded the project a $100,000 JobsOhio Revitalization Grant.

“This assistance will make it more feasible for our company to redevelop a vacant industrial building in the historically economically disadvantaged downtown area of Piqua, Ohio,” said Wilson Reiser, Winans’ CEO and the fifth generation of the Winans family to run the business. “A core value of our company is to anchor and reinvest in the small towns that have supported us over the years. The JobsOhio assistance will make that possible and pave the way for other entrepreneurs to join us.”

Reiser said the renovation will allow Winans to increase their coffee production to meet growing demand and allow their chocolate operation to expand into the current coffee area. The ultimate goal of the project is to increase chocolate and coffee production to facilitate the growth of more retail locations throughout Ohio.

“Winans has a proud history of bringing joy to Ohioans with its confections for over a century, and its continued growth brings more investment and revitalization to Piqua’s downtown,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “This restored facility will increase production to meet the high demand for Winans’ outstanding products while breathing new life into an underutilized building in the center of Piqua.”

The expanded space will also allow them to leverage bulk purchasing for their coffee beans, providing space to order more at a lower price. Coffee-growing countries have been impacted by the pandemic, as well as other types of political and economic volatility, creating supply chain issues for roasters.

“We are excited for Winans to expand their operations in their hometown of Piqua, Ohio,” said DDC’s Executive Vice President of Regional Development Julie Sullivan. “Having businesses like Winans continue to grow in their hometown communities helps strengthen and grow local economies and create a direct positive impact within the community.”

Winans moved into its current production facility in 2015, adding production lines, storage space and a retail store. The ability to run multiple lines and store larger amounts of their product has been critical to their retail expansion across the state. The additional space, directly across E. High Street, will provide the capacity to continue growing.

“We’re thrilled to support a company with such a deep and proud Ohio history,” said Piqua Community and Economic Development Director Chris Schmiesing. “Helping them continue to grow in their hometown and fuel the transformation of Piqua’s downtown represents an exciting opportunity for Winans and the Piqua community.”