Holzer to team up with local coffee shop in new East State Street clinic

The near-complete Holzer clinic at 2131 E. State St. will house a Donkey Coffee and Espresso walk-up bar in the main lobby. Familiar organic, fair-trade coffee drinks will accompany grab-and-go local food items such as soups, pizza, salads and sandwiches, according to a news release.

The near-complete Holzer clinic at 2131 E. State St. will house a Donkey Coffee and Espresso walk-up bar in the main lobby. Familiar organic, fair-trade coffee drinks will accompany grab-and-go local food items such as soups, pizza, salads and sandwiches, according to a news release.

When plans for the new facility were underway, according to clinic officials, the staff believed supporting a local business would best serve their client's needs. "Our intention is to support the local community and the local economy," Steven R. Davies, Holzer Clinic's Athens director of operations, stated in a news release. "We are excited to have Donkey not only because of the Athens connection, but because of the solid service they provide and the exceptional product they sell."

Chris and Angie Pyle, owners of Donkey Coffee, accepted Holzer's proposal in May. "We really liked the direction that they wanted to go - local art, local coffee," Chris Pyle said in the release. "They seem to keep a down-to-earth feel concerning their practice."

Donkey opened its doors at 17 1/2 W. Washington St. in 2002. Ohio Magazine voted Donkey as Best Coffee House in Ohio earlier this year, and it has been a regular winner of Athens NEWS Best of Athens Readers' Choice awards for its coffee.

The new Holzer Clinic's ground-breaking ceremony was held June 5, 2007. The property, developed by Brent Hayes, is located near the Super 8 Motel on Athens' far east side. Construction delays have pushed the original March opening date to Dec. 8.  A grand opening celebration is being planned.

Local artist Sherri James Wilson provided lighting for the coffee bar through her pendant sandblasted wine bottles, complete with a coffee-bean design. Other local art will be displayed as well.

Throughout the new facility are waiting areas designed for enjoying food and drinks, according to the release.

"We will have local art on display in collaboration with the Dairy Barn Arts Center, including a beautiful stained glass display in the first floor waiting area. Patients will be able to enjoy our 2nd floor roof garden," Davies said in the release.

The Holzer Clinic Athens will offer an enhanced Urgent Care facility that will be open 365 days a year from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with on-site lab and imaging services. They also will have a full-service pharmacy, the latest in medical imaging and testing, an outpatient surgery center, a four-bed sleep center, therapy and rehabilitation, and over 30 physicians representing more then 20 specialties. A 42,000-kilowatt solar panel array will also be installed, the release said.

The landlord of the three current Holzer properties on Columbus Road has tenants ready to move in upon Holzer's departure, according to the release.