Jones and her husband, John, opened Penny Lane about eight years ago.
“We spent a lot of time at home creating a menu that actually fit the equipment down there and we tried to make unique sandwiches that aren’t typical in New Carlisle," Jones said.
She said that they decided to sell the business because “through the years you just realize that that type of business – especially a small mom and pop – you almost have to be there and work it yourself. That would be the optimum."
“Because we were not able to do that, we felt like maybe the café was not growing like it could have," Jones added.
Allyson Fourman, who now owns Penny Lane with her husband, Damon, has worked at the café since 2015.
Prior to working at Penny Lane, Fourman said she and her husband, high school sweethearts, went on dates at the café.
Fourman said she never thought she would end up owning Penny Lane when she started working there at 18.
“It was of course kind of like a wildest dream scenario going on,” she said.
When Fourman was asked if she wanted to own the café, Fourman said, “I just couldn’t resist it. I just went for it.”
Jones said that Fourman was a manager at Penny Lane for over two years and that is when it showed that she was the “perfect person” to own the café.
“I love interacting with everybody and being able to brighten their day – whether it be with a cup of coffee or something simple like a sandwich," Fourman said. “It’s just a nice feeling knowing that I’m giving people something they want and look forward to.”
Even though she is now the owner, Fourman said she will still work at the café five days a week.
Customers should not expect any immediate changes, Fourman said. She is planning to add more events and find additional local artists to feature in the gallery.
Fourman said that she is lucky and honored "to have an establishment like this in the town I grew up in. Nothing brings me more joy than being able to give them (customers) something that they like, something that they look forward to and being able to create a warm environment for people to come and hang out with their friends or loved ones in.”
“There’s just something about the ambiance of the café,” Jones said.
Penny Lane Art Gallery & Café, located at 109 S. Main St., sells sandwiches, soups, salads, specialty coffee drinks like lattes, Boston Stoker coffee and tea products and local art. The gallery and café is open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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