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franklin county times

Treat yourself to Sweets &Beans

By Staff
A SWEET TOOTH Sandra Quinlisk opened Sweets &Beans in March. The coffee shop is housed on Front Street in downtown Meridian and serves a large selection of breakfast muffins, coffees, cakes and pies. Photo by Penny Randall/The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall / staff writer
July 2, 2003
Sandra Quinlisk doesn't mind if customers linger at her eatery in fact she encourages it.
Quinlisk said she wants people to feel at home.
Sweets &Beans, a coffee shop in downtown Meridian, is furnished with plush relaxing arm chairs and a comfy couch.
There are plenty of magazines and newspapers to mull over while you sip coffee and munch on a homemade pastry.
Open to public
Sweets &Beans began serving customers March 28 and is open from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Quinlisk moved to Meridian last June from Lafayette, Ind., when her husband, Robert, took at job at Avery Dennison.
She started freelancing for Just Desserts which was housed in the same location as Sweets &Beans.
When the bakery went out of business, the owner offered to rent the space to Quinlisk. She said she hesitated for a while but finally told herself, "Why not take a chance go for it and make a commitment."
Quinlisk said response to Sweets &Beans has been wonderful.
Homemade desserts
All the desserts at Sweets &Beans are homemade. On a daily basis customers can choose from cheesecake, chocolate cake and bread pudding. Looking for an easy breakfast in a flash? Select from cinnamon rolls, flower pot muffins, scones with jam, English muffins, bagels with cream cheese and even biscuits.
Quinlisk also offers an assortment of coffee. Select from espresso, latte, cappuccino, frappuccino, iced cappuccino and iced mocha.
Traditional coffee drinkers are not left out. Quinlisk brews up fresh regular and decaffeinated blends of coffee each morning. And for an extra kick add a flavor shot to your drink everything from raspberry and strawberry to caramel and Irish cream.
If you aren't in the mood for coffee, try hot chocolate, orange juice, bottled root beer, Italian soda and soft drinks.
The cafe also features live music every other weekend from 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Area artists entertain customers with poetry readings, classical guitar and jazz. Quinlisk has also hosted an art show at the eatery.
Plans for the future include serving lunch in the fall. Quinlisk said the lunch items will be simple, such as casseroles, chicken salad and cold sandwiches.

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