Jackson Jambalaya

The Bean will sprout up in a Madison next year.  Yes, East Madison is finally going to get its own coffee shop. 

Site of the Madison Bean

Long a staple of the Fondren coffee scene, the popular espresso cafe will open a second location at the corner of Highway 51 and Madison Avenue in Madison next year.  

How did the Bean wind up in Madison? As goes so many things in Mississippi, personal connections brought it all together.  Friends of Bean owner Kristy Buchanan approached her about creating a second Bean in Madison.  The same friends also knew developer Bridgeforth Rutledge and hooked them up.  The Cappuccino Queen  met with Mr. Rutledge and they struck a deal.

"I have so many customers from Madison because of school and work. I felt it was the right time and place," said Ms. Buchanan.    She said the developer is "very enthusiastic" about the opening of the Madison Bean. 

The Madison Bean will have the same menu and offerings as the Fondren store.  It will be much easier to grab coffee on the go as new coffee shop will have a drive-thru, a must in the industry today after the pandemic as the coffee shop industry is veering away from stores that don't offer a drive-thru option. 

The new store will be 2,600 square feet although 400 square feet will be used for storage.  The kitchen will be somewhat larger than it is at the Fondren Bean at 300 square feet.  

Rendering of Madison Bean

The Madison Bean will open from 7-6 six days a week.  However, Ms. Buchanan said the Madison Bean may close at a later hour if warranted by demand.  Although the Fondren Bean has 13-15 employees, the Madison Bean will probably have up to 30 employees due to the kitchen expansion and drive-thru service. 

The Bean will be in quite the little hot spot in Madison as it will be adjacent to Madison Marketplace.  The Thai restaurant Tuk Tuk Boom will move in next door as well while popular Pig and Pint restaurant will open a second location across the street.  The development of the Magnolia District caught Ms. Buchanan's eye. 

The Bean owner said one thing she likes about her Fondren store is it is part a community.  There is good walk through traffic as there are restaurants and stores within walking distance.  Ms. Buchanan said such community is important to her.  The Magnolia District will offer a similar experience with restaurants, retail, and other establishments within walking distance as well.

The Madison Board of Ealdormen approved the Bean's site plan Tuesday night.  

The Bean began as Sneaky Beans in the Fondren in 2008. She said was at church when she heard the owner say was getting ready to sell Sneaky Beans so she bought the coffee shop. "All right, I'd like to talk to you about that," reminisced Ms. Buchanan.  She bought Sneaky Beans in 2019 and changed the name to the current "Bean."  She said everyone she knew already referred to Sneaky Beans as the Bean so she changed to name to reflect its street name while "giving homage" to its years serving the Fondren.   

Bean owner Kristy Buchanan

Ms. Buchanan wasted no time in making changes inside and outside.  She installed a full-scaled kitchen and added an eight-item food menu for breakfast and lunch.

The timing of the purchase was impeccable as the Covid-19 pandemic began just a few months later.  "That year was trauma for every single person in the service industry," said Ms. Buchanan.  Thus the Bean "had to pivot" as it opened the kitchen and navigated the eddies of the pandemic, no small task.  Although she couldn't offer drive-thru service, she installed a "pick-up"window so customers could get their coffee without entering the store.  

She hopes to offer similar experience in Madison.  "The goal of Madison is to offer a similar space as we have here (at the Fondren Bean)," said Ms. Buchanan.     The building will be broken up into several rooms for cozy meeting spots in a design similar to that of the Fondren Bean.    

"I want my coffee shops to be a place where you can get a really good cappuccino and a really good breakfast," said Ms. Buchanan with a smile.