Biden makes unexpected stop at Red Mug bakery, coffee shop

Suzanne Johnson was shaking in her boots when the motorcade rounded the corner at Broadway Street and Cumming Avenue in Superior.

The sport utility vehicle carrying Vice President Joe Biden rolled to a stop with an entourage of staff, media and Secret Service agents standing watch as Biden ascended the stairs to the Red Mug Bakery in the Old Commerce and Trade Building on Broadway and Hammond Avenue.

The establishment was chosen for its cookies — donkeys and elephants — representing both political parties, a kind of gauge of the upcoming vote.

Predictably, Biden bought four donkeys —along with two loaves of bread and brownies.

Johnson, who had never owned a business before Red Mug Coffee, told Biden she didn’t want to see the bakery close so she took over that business too.

After learning about Johnson’s other business, he headed down a set of inside stairs that lead to the coffee shop.

Stunned patrons watched as Biden rounded the corner, into the coffee shop.

“I just came in for a sandwich,” one woman said before handing off her sandwich to someone in the media traveling with the vice president.

Judy Hack, a retired teacher, was quick to react to the vice president’s unexpected visit to the coffee shop.

“I’ve been working 12 hour-days for you,” Hack said as she hurried over to give Biden a hug. “You’re not the only one working hard. Thank you. Thank you.”

Biden handed his staff a cell phone of one woman after another asked if she could have her picture taken with him and he posed for the photo with both women.

He sat down at another table to talk to the people there and order a cup of coffee before heading back to the Duluth International Airport to head to Colorado for his next campaign stop.

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