History of Beans
What a story…
It all started off with a simple night out in Nashville Tennessee the summer of 2003. My wife and I were walking the music district after a meal at a local eatery. As we walked the streets of Nashville we heard the sounds coming out of clubs that fill the streets with music. Each place full of life and everyone was enjoying themselves both, inside and outside of the clubs. My wife said, "What if there was a place you could experience this with out the adult environment; you know, feel safe about brining your family to? Why couldn't you have a place to fill this missing venue of someplace family safe filled with music of all kinds?"
The next day we visited a used music instrument store to look at the “toys” for sale. We walked around the shop and came through a back hallway into a coffee-shop with the exact feel of the place we talked about last night. We both looked at each other and smiled. Right then and there the vision planted for Beans, Books, and Beliefs in Sterling!
Once we got back to Sterling the hunt was on for a place to buy and start the processes of bringing this style meeting place to the area. We looked at renting verses buying. We visited several buildings to refurbish and then get zoning; all this led no where fast. Then we happened upon the old Haymarket and Green Lantern building. What a dump that was. But, it had character! It had so much character that we looked at it twice. Maybe we saw it three times, who remembers! But, from those first visits inside; we could see the vision coming to light.
We then shared our vision with another couple and opened up the crazy notion of buying the old Haymarket building. I think their response was, “Good for you”. But, of course God was working on them too, and soon they were full of questions for which we had no answers. Remember we had no money; we were working personally on becoming better stewards of our finances. But we still felt that something was working here and that God would provide if it was in his plan. We prayed and dreamed and ultimately decided to make an offer on the old building. Remember “we had no money, the owner was out of town, the building was overpriced by 300%, they had state tax liens, unemployment liens, the owner had a real distrust of Christians, and the build was in severe disrepair.
But, God provided paths to straighten out ALL the issues. The heart of the owner changed, the dollars were provided by the couple who shared our vision, the price came in right to the dollars we had, the liens were all straighten out, and finally the building was ours. The building was still in disrepair but faith and hope told us that God would straighten in out in His time.
Deconstruction was started by us and the other couple we partnered with in this vision development. We removed dumpsters upon dumpsters from the building which to date totals about 200,000 pounds of junk. Every time we needed to change the dumpster, God provided the money to pay for it. The taxes were renegotiated to the fair market value and things were moving along rather well. When you look at how bad it was until now, it’s amazing we have gotten so much done on a part time basis. The worse part was that everything had to be removed from the building. We had two businesses, five apartments, basement rooms and tons of garbage. A great deal of rewarding work was done by this core group.
Workers and volunteers started to arrive once some initial deconstruction was underway. We had some people start to ask if they could come and help and of course said yes! These people could work; let me tell you they performed some very hard and dirty tasks. They came from work each and every Tuesday evening and worked from about 5:00 PM till 7:00 PMeach night. What a blessing they have been for the last several years. It seemed each time we performed tear down and clean-up we had to tear down more and clean-up, and repeat. It was very hard work for all involved. Also, we have partnered with several contactors to lead the effort of rebuilding to codes required by the City of Sterlingand various Whiteside County Health Department expected regulations. In working with these officials from the City of Sterlingand the WCHD we have been above board and proactive in seeking out the “right way” to meet the goal of this ministry. The one thing that we have heard was from more volunteers to finish off the job through painting, cleaning, touching up the final details when we are ready. Cooks, servers, pot washers are ready to meet the people that come through the door. We also have heard from many musicians that are interested in keeping live music a big part of the environment at Beans. What a blessing all these people will be.
Coffee-house equipment just showed up one day which really was an example of God working all things for his good. We began a relationship that brought us in contact with a Christian Coffee-house in Clinton, IA. They worked their ministry for several years and when the Lord called them into military service. So as the Lord placed it on their hearts and they decided to give us all the tools to use in our place in Sterling. Three 27 ft rental trucks later and we had the operating supplies and equipment to begin Beans. Wow!
Materials ranging from time, lumber, equipment, skills, talents, and financial donations each arrived exactly when we needed them. We in our finite vision could have never expected to have the things we needed each and every time. With out the community of believer support in both prayer and supplies we could not be as far along today as we are.
Media coverage and advertising came in various forms. The biggest advertising is the word of mouth working around this area. We also have been featured in the newspaper several times and our message has begun to be out in the community. I see that in this area our place can exist besides the restaurants and bars that fill each small city in the U.S. I know that when the time comes we will have more exposure as God sees fit.
Rebuilding has started and the same ones that tore the place up are rebuilding the vision. It’s amazing that the more we rebuild, the more excitement builds from two-by-fours and dirty bricks. Archways, walls, roughed in plumbing, new electrical service, and finally heat; are the things we get excited about on a daily basis. The new walkways between the two buildings really set in place the overall environment of the final setting. It is amazing!
Our future holds much promise for a great place to meet people were they are. Each person involved has a diversified role and skill set to be used for Beans. I know that in the late spring of 2006 we hope to open. This time will be filled with much happiness and some struggle. Funny, how this place and this vision mirrors life somehow. It seems that in this entire process we have experienced the best of people’s generosity for something they could not see, but hoped for.
We have a huge responsibility to be faithful to the calling we have heard. Our future in bright and we are very excited about meeting you all come this spring. Come in and see us when you have a moment, you won’t believe the stories we can share one you arrive.
Thanks,
Beans, Books and Beliefs