HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – The smell of fresh coffee and warm soup welcomes visitors as soon as they open the doors of the Corner Coffeehouse downtown Hopkinsville. Whether someone is buying a book, ordering lunch or grabbing a quick cup of coffee, this cozy oasis full of plants and quiet conversation was carefully curated by owners Amanda and April Huff-McClure.
“In every city that we’ve lived, we’ve automatically looked for the coffee shops and the bookstores,” Amanda told Christian County Now. Especially on rainy days where people are looking for a dry reprieve, Amanda and her wife find themselves in a constant state of motion to keep up with orders.
The couple is celebrating seven years in business this month after starting Corner Coffeehouse in 2017 at their first location on South Virginia Street. At the time, the downtown area had only recently started to see a surge of new businesses, and they decided moving to South Main Street would better suit them. They have been at their current location since 2019 with the goal of creating an inclusive space for Hopkinsville.
“Something that’s been really important to us is to make it inclusive in every possible way,” Amanda said. “Everyone can find a safe and welcome spot.”
Book sales and family
Amanda knew from the beginning that they would have a strong emphasis on books. Shelves around the coffee bar are stocked with a range of used books, including titles from authors local to the area.
With their strong emphasis on books, the owners have created a diverse community of local book lovers that gather for reading groups. They also have local authors visit for readings and sell books online.
“In a time when bookselling has been kind of in a state of flux and most booksellers need to have a dual income business, it’s just a really good business model for us because people are starting to veer back a little bit from digital readers back to ‘hold in your hand’ books,” said Amanda.
Their passion for their customers fuels them both as they open every day with soup made from scratch daily, and baked goods are set out. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options are always available, along with a unique espresso menu and loose-leaf tea selection.
Amanda joyfully explained how it is working with her wife and having their three children so involved in the business, “It’s wonderful, and for the kids it’s like a second home.”
The Corner Coffeehouse is open Monday through Thursday between 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., while they are open until 4 p.m. on Fridays at 1100 South Main Street in Hopkinsville. Find out about book sales and their full menu on the Corner Coffeehouse Facebook page.
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