Before Grady Duckworth and Tammy Hudson-Duckworth bought the Book and Bean Cafe, they had a good idea of how the cafe functioned. That's because their son first job shadowed the previous owner and then worked at the cafe.

Buying the cafe, though, was more than just a whim. It was the fulfilment of a dream.

"I've always wanted a coffee shop, since I made some friends in Italy who owned a cafe," Grady Duckworth said.

For Tammy Hudson-Duckworth, Grady's wife and co-owner of the cafe, it is the day-to-day experience that gives her pleasure.

"I just love serving people; I love the public and I love art," Tammy Hudson-Duckworth said.

The couple took over the cafe in December. And in that time, they have seen an increase in customers and in groups that utilize the cafe as a meeting place.

"My vision is that anybody in the community that needs a space, a group, a family...can meet here," Hudson-Duckworth said.

The cafe is the gathering space for a chess group, a knitting group and card groups, just to name a few. In addition, Hudson-Duckworth has been picking an artist every month to highlight. Her young artist for the month of June is Matthew Tibudan. The adult artist for June is Holly Robertson Photography.

The bean is also the destination for open mic night, which takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.