New Coffee Shop Now Open in Marketplace Cafe

by Don Napier
When we hear the term “coffee house,” we automatically think of Starbucks, or some other little out of the way coffee shop in some town we visited. They are almost always located “somewhere else.” For example, there’s a great coffee house on the square in Cookeville.

But I live in Crossville, and my business is in Crossville, so I want my coffee house in Crossville. I want a shop where men and women can take a break from their jobs and have a cup of good coffee, or a specialty coffee along with a piece of pie, or muffin, cookie or bagel.

I want enough room for a small meeting, and I want it cool in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter.

I just described Southern Expresso Coffees, located upstairs in the 5th Street Marketplace. That is the same building that houses the Marketplace Cafe and Charity’s Bake Shop. The Marketplace is home to over 50 different booths specializing in beautiful home decor, gifts and accessories.

But, it is also home to the vastly popular Marketplace Cafe which includes private dining space for small groups or meetings. And now, upstairs, on street level, is their newest addition, “Southern Espresso Coffees.” If I know Ruthie Kerley, the Marketplace owner, she is not through decorating her coffee shop. Everything she does is always top drawer.

I enjoyed a regular 12 oz. cup of coffee recently and was really impressed with the staff (Lynsi Jarrett and Bobbi Avery). They serve Vienna coffee, which I found to be an excellent choice. Since I am Lactose intollerant, I cannot have the standard coffee house Latte’s and Mocha’s because they use real cream and milk. But thanks to the Marketplace management, I can enjoy them here, because they carry soy milk for their special need customers.

One thing I noticed was that their plain 12 oz. cup of brewed coffee was priced very fairly at $1.25 and includes refills. The larger 16 oz. size was just a quarter more. Their Vienna Coffee is also for sale by the one pound package.

Due to the fact that Charity’s Bake Shop is located downstairs in the Marketplace, the coffee shop will never be without wonderful fresh baked desserts including cakes, cookies, pies, Creme Brulee, muffins, and custom and special order cakes.

Take my word for it and make plans to visit the coffee house at 5th Street Marketplace. Remember, if you come in the back of the building, you are in the basement and will have to go up the stairs to the coffee shop. Or, you can enter on street-level which faces West Avenue.

The address is 271 West Avenue, Crossville, TN. They are open Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays.