STERLING – In early June, I reported that First Rockford Group was working with an unnamed national coffee chain to locate in the strip mall that was under construction in Sterling Commons Shopping Center. The chain was expected to open a drive-thru, if it ended up coming to Sterling.

Since then I have had numerous inquiries from those in Sterling wondering which chain it would be. All I could do was assure them that I was persistently following up, at least weekly.

In late July, I had a small break in the case when Caribou Coffee told me clearly that it would not be locating in Sterling – the only absolute answer I had received.