Guest Blogger: Jessica AuvilleIt’s no secret to anyone who lives here in Nashville that – despite its small town southern feel – Nashville is a constantly expanding city. While most residents love to see the growth of our beloved metropolis, that growth can sometimes lead to the sacrifice of small town treasures. For instance: a consistent sense of community and the existence of places where the owners remember your name and your face. Luckily places like The Good Cup in the Grassland area of Franklin still manage to provide that refreshing sense of small town community.
A small OPEN sign and a chalkboard featuring an inspiring quote greet you at the lovely wooden framed door just before the scent of coffee and pastries do. If you are lucky – as I was – you have the chance to meet the two owners, Mike and Amanda Taylor, and their sweet daughter Mycah. And from what I gathered that doesn’t seem to be rarity. Many of the patrons who came in during my visit were greeted by name followed by stories of the daily happenings of life as well as the condition of family members and friends. The sense of home - community - and a meeting place is immediately recognized.
This special place actually had its beginnings in 2003 as a coffee stand in the corner of a candle shop managed by Ann Sale. When the candle shop closed, Sale expanded her stand to take up the entire space. As the counter can attest to - its pattern pounded out by hand with quarters - the shop was a home grown effort fueled by passion for community, coffee and creativity.
Therefore it was only natural that Sale sell her shop to someone equally as impassioned for coffee -Amanda Taylor and her husband Mike. Taylor moved to Nashville for her husband from Colorado and eventually quit her job in order to work at the Good Cup. Her passion for coffee originated in Thailand where she worked to start a coffee shop from the ground up only to leave the day after the grand opening. It had always been her dream to own a coffee shop, which she finally did two years after joining The Good Cup team. Since then she has intentionally stayed true to the roots of the business - providing great coffee and promoting the community - but her small tweaks have not gone unnoticed or underappreciated. From the “take a book - leave a book” system to the presence every Thursday and Saturday morning of live jazz musicians.
“I just feel like there are so many creative people in the area. I want people to know about them,” said Taylor. A space to actualize those wants is exactly what she has created. The showcase of local talent starts in the pastry display case; The Good Cup features food from Purecake (cake made from all pure ingredients and sold only in The Good Cup), The Pink Cupcake (bite sized cupcakes), as well as locally made biscotti brought to you by Pam Hayes. In addition local talent Renee Miller makes scones and Katie Widmaier brings you delicious harvest bars.
But The Good Cup’s focus on local brilliance doesn’t end with delicious treats. Everything from all natural/essential oil soaps made by The Olive Branch to locally made greeting cards from Cardish Charm can be found lining the shelves and walls in the quaint one room coffee shop. If you’re interested in accessories, check out the hand-bags made from recycled burlap coffee bean bags: environmentally friendly and stylish and created by local artisan Melissa Brown.
And let’s not forget: it wouldn’t be Nashville without music and the arts. If you are looking for new pieces by local artists check out Lydia Hejny ‘s iconic paintings featured on the walls. In addition to the ambiance created by the jazz music featured weekly The Good Cup hosts concerts frequently - sometimes a couple of times a week and routinely each Friday - of local acts with all original music. The Good Cup is truly a triple threat display of local art, food, and music.
So how about those of us not lucky enough to live in the immediate Franklin area; can we expect The Good Cup to grace us with its presence anytime soon? According to Taylor, an expansion probably isn’t in the works yet as she explained the summer time is slow and other extraneous matters saying, “I think I’ll know when the time is right”. Til then I know I’ll be taking the fifteen minute drive that is more than worth it. But don’t take my word for it – try it out yourself!
Here is the website for The Good Cup as well as links and contact information for some of the vendors mentioned above. Enjoy getting your local on!
www.thegoodcup.comwww.CourtureCoffeeBags.comwww.thepinkcupcake.netJessica Auville is an undergraduate student at Belmont University and a native to the Nashville area. Fueled by a combination of strong coffee, good company, and never being too busy to window shop, she has an innate appreciation for all of the incredibly diverse local businesses. Although plans for relocation due to school may be in the works she’s thrilled to be a part of the TNBuyLocal team helping the Nashville community gain easy access to the richness of the culture around them.
Friday, August 27, 2010 at 10:00AM in 
Check out The Mad Platter this Sunday from 1-3pm for for an art opening featuring new whimsical works by Lisa Stevens of Paper Finch Studio. The event is free and open to the public. Food will be provided from the amazing chefs at the Mad Platter and drinks (wine and fruit tea) provided by the artist. This event promises to be a great way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon.