In downtown Columbus, Mississippi, on 5th Street, there's a small little coffee shop, simply called the Coffee House on Fifth. A daily visit for many in the Columbus area, Coffee House on Fifth provides the downtown area with much of its daily lifeblood. A month ago this Coffee House went up for sale, and a group stepped forward to ensure it remained an upstanding environment.
The pastors of Columbus-based Life Church, located at 419 Lock and Dam Rd, C.J. Andrews and Jody Andrews, purchased the coffee shop in hopes of keeping it in local hands. I stepped into the coffee shop a few days before the sale became official, expecting to get a contact number for the new owners, instead I was readily greeted by Mrs. Andrews who was busily studying the ins and outs of the coffee biz. She readily cleared out a spot for myself and my small notebook (which I took almost no notes in) so that we could chat.
C.J. was very open with me, explaining that when they saw the coffee shop was up for sale the couple knew they had to buy it. I questioned her whether any major changes could be expected, assuming the coffee house might be converted into a sort of downtown ministry center that serves coffee, but I was assured that the business itself would continue to function as usual, no major aesthetic or business functions would change. In fact, she explained that they planned to hire on a few new baristas and extend the evening and morning hours. As is, those who want coffee in the downtown area before 7:30 either have to drive to a fast-food place or Starbucks, but Pastor Andrews explained they planned to begin opening the shop at 6 a.m. starting in August.
When I questioned why the church went out of their way to purchase the establishment, C.J. gave me a pretty typical, but very correct answer, they wanted it in good hands. A major portion of coffee house work is centered on customer service. It requires friendly people who know how to be friendly. Mrs. Andrews explained that the coffee shop was just one more way to better young people in the area, by offering new employment opportunities that helped to teach them about interaction with other people. This is possibly more important in the modern day than ever, as impersonal conversation is becoming a main stay (see also: please do not call me, just text me or email me).
Coffee House on 5th, prior to my new caffeine free diet, was my favorite place to visit in downtown Columbus, when I heard it was being sold I feared for the handsome little shop's life, I can not express how delighted I am that not only will the coffee house remain standing, but it will be improved upon and expanded over time.
#CoffeeHouseon5th #ColumbusMS #GoldenTrianglebiz #Mississippi #coffeeculture #LifeChurch
You'll find my column in the Commercial Dispatch and Starkville Dispatch Business section, every Thursday, under the name "The Sherman Business Report," that's right, the Sherman Business Situation's name has been changed. You'll still find my embellishments here though, whenever I get a chance to write a bit more in depth about what's going on in the Golden Triangle! If you live in the Golden Triangle and have some information on a new or old business, please don't hesitate to hit me up at CWSherman93@gmail.com!
Thanks for reading!
#CWSherman
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