Martin's - Coffee & Bakery

06/13/2026

I have been a little frustrated lately.

80 or so years ago, the wood that is now around this fire door was used to brace the original opening from our coffee shop into the building next to it. All of this extra work and cost, when for so many years what is right in front of us was used seemingly without a problem.

Truth is, just because it used to be done a certain way does not mean it was the right way to do it, does it?

Sounds familiar.

This change happening with these spaces and our business has been uncomfortable. Uncovering and dealing with old problems from the past in order to bring new value and a stronger foundation for the future is part of the cost of building something that lasts. Something the next owners of these old buildings can build from when we are gone.

November is coming, and with it comes a familiar choice.

We have seen the way it has been built. We can ignore it and wait for it to collapse on the next generation, or we can do the work and build it back together in the open for all of us to benefit, not just a few.

After so many years of this door being sealed shut, it feels like it can finally start to open to a new Martin.

06/12/2026

The Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival Committee is now complete!

Help us welcome our Volunteer Director, Tamara Kelso.

The Volunteer Director helps organize and support the people who make the festival possible. This role oversees volunteer sign-ups, communication, scheduling, placement, and coordination throughout the event to make sure volunteers feel prepared, appreciated, and connected to the mission of bringing the community together.

Tamara Kelso will coordinate volunteer recruitment, placement, and orientation for the festival. Having served as a higher education administrator at four universities, Tamara has coordinated numerous major events and supported large-scale academic and campus initiatives. That experience helped shape her strengths in organization, leadership, and community engagement.

Though her roots are in Texas, Tamara and her husband, Kent, have proudly made Martin their home for the past eight years. Inspired by numerous family members who dedicated themselves to public service, Tamara developed an early appreciation for civic engagement. She currently volunteers with multiple organizations in the Martin community and values opportunities to contribute her time to causes that benefit others.

Tamara and Kent are proud parents of two sons and daughters-in-law, Kaeden and Tori, and Kellan and Paige.

We are still looking for volunteers!

If you want to be part of saving the tradition of our community gathering together, please consider signing up in the comments below.

06/11/2026

Two doors, scrap wood, and a bookshelf are in there. It’s free, you just have to take it all. Let me know if you want it!

06/10/2026

SOLD!!!
We bought this building 8 years ago as an investment property. It has had many different renters over the years and even housed Fiddle and Clay for a short time.

When Woodfire Pizza (Peter Parker’s Pizza, as we call it) moved in next door, we knew it was time to sell.

As much as we would have loved to have lived in the top part of the building and be so close to so many amazing places to eat, like Blake’s at Southern Milling, Woodfire Pizza, Blue Oak, La Cabana, and so many others, selling this space to help finish the restoration of Jack Henry’s was the right move. It’s interesting how the first major bill we received from the Color Shop arrived right after we closed on the property.

We’re very happy that this beautiful blue building is going to someone who will take care of it and truly use it in a way that I don’t think we ever honestly would have.

I’m still voting for a small one door ice cream shop as part of the tenants that are already there.

06/10/2026

Nearly a 10 foot opening has been made from the coffee shop into 409. A small landing with a step down and ramp has been added. We found out that there is a foot difference in height between the buildings. We have a temporary wall up in 407 so we can stay open while the second space is being finished up.
Not sure when we will be done, we picked out the flooring yesterday, lights came in a week ago.

Current to-do list:
Fix the trim around the door
Fix trim around windows (baseboard)
Install a fire door going into 411
Clean up balconies by fixing damage and trim
Fix the brick on 407 entrance (messy)
Rewire above entrance with new conduit, make sure to install a J box centered above the entrance, so we can install track lighting and a sign for Jack Henry's.
Fix the wire cut in the ceiling when LVL's were being installed
Cover vents at the front inside of the building with plywood
Cover-up whirlybirds with plywood
Hang chandeliers (After Spray foam?)
Spray foam insulation with painting the ceiling black (Maybe 311 Spray Foam and Construction)
Finish wall at the back of the stage (I think ivory? Can add signage later)
Get vent covers and some sort of defuser (maybe E&H)
Plan for front windows, ceiling (wallpaper?)
Paint balcony
Install flooring
Install railing (Maybe Vintage Iron works)
Take down the temporary wall

Serve 1.2 million cups of coffee to cover the cost.

06/10/2026

06/10/2026

Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival update!

All vendor applications are under review.

Family and Faith Night will be completely reworked in an exciting way, led by our Faith and Family Night director - Alex Gallion.

The free community grill out is almost booked.

The Little Sprouts Bounce Park space has been secured, and we have a quote for what it will cost to have 12 giant bounce houses with games that will completely fill the space.

Sponsorships have officially started, and we need businesses and individuals to purchase sponsorships to help get the larger parts of this festival underway.

Shirts have been ordered and are about 2 weeks out. Thank you to everyone who purchased shirts!

We will have an update on the parade after the 15th. No promises, but things are really shaping up.

We are still looking for volunteers, so if you are interested in helping save the tradition of our community gathering together, please sign up.

Lastly, and this is a fun one, we are having a local celebrity dunk booth all 3 days. All the money from this booth will go to the Friend of a Firefighter campaign.

Help us get the word out by nominating local leaders or anyone you want to see dunked.

06/08/2026

A huge thank you to the Martin Rotary Club for becoming a Silver Sprout Sponsor of Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival with a $1,000 sponsorship.

Your support is helping us save the tradition of gathering together as a community to celebrate what makes Martin great.

This festival is being built through local people, local businesses, and local organizations stepping up to make sure our community still has a place to gather, celebrate, and carry this tradition forward.

Thank you, Rotary Club of Martin, for believing in this grassroots effort and helping make this festival possible.

Every sponsorship helps us keep the tradition of gathering alive and create a space for Martin to celebrate what makes our community great.

If you or your business would like to help support Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival, please reach out to us or follow the information in the comments.

06/06/2026

What vendors do you want to see at Martin’s Grassroots Soybean Festival?
We need your help finding the best food trucks, craft vendors, artists, makers, farmers, and local businesses to set up at the Grassroots Festival.
Tag who you want to see in the comments below and help us spread the word.
We will post the vendor application link in the comments!

06/06/2026

Here is the approved site map!
We are actively adding to the itinerary! More details coming soon!
Thursday, September 10th: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
- Family and faith night
- Free Community Grill out

Friday, September 11th: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
- Local music talent show

Saturday, September 12th: 10:00am - 9:00pm
- Programming Pending

Martin's Grassroots Soybean Festival