Franklin’s own coffeehouse
By Adrian Gillaspy
The Franklin Staff Writer
Benjamin’s Café is a family-owned, local operation.
Jay and Cathy Shively and their son Benjamin and daughter-in-law Ashley Shively work together at the coffeehouse, which is a short walk from campus.
Benjamin’s was one of the businesses featured at the Taste of Franklin during Family Weekend.
“We never participated before [in Taste of Franklin], but this is the first year we’ve owned [the café],” said Ashley Shively. “Some students said they didn’t even know we were here.”
The menu for the café includes gourmet coffees, specialty baked goods and fresh deli sandwiches.
Hot breakfast is served and breakfast sandwiches and pastries – including sticky buns, muffins and bagels – are available.
For lunch, a number of sandwiches are available. A four-cheese panini, chicken pesto panini and chicken, bacon and ranch panini are new additions to the menu –joining the original BLT sandwich. Italian panini, bagel, croissant and wheat, rye or white oat bread are the bread options.
Lunch includes a small assortment of soups and salads. A cup of soup with a small side, Caesar or Greek salad is $4.99.
Salad options include taco salad, tomato flower, cranberry crunch salad and chef salad.
“We are adding a new Southwest spring menu. It will include fiesta soups, salads and wraps,” Jay Shively said.
For dessert, Benjamin’s Café provides cookies, brownies, specialty breads and dessert bars.
There is an assortment of drinks on the menu, as well. Gourmet coffee, Chai tea and hot chocolate are a few of the drinks that might appeal to Franklin College students during the cold days of winter term. Prices are all under four dollars.
Other drinks include Italian soda, cream cokes, iced coffee, fountain drinks and smoothies. Prices vary, but do not exceed three dollars.
The menu is filled with an assortment of food and drink items, but that is not all the café has to offer.
They provide free Wi-Fi and encourage students and members of the community to socialize, eat and use the wireless Internet connection.
Live music is provided on Friday nights and local artists are sponsored every month. Their artwork is displayed throughout the café.
