Bayou Eats | HEBREWS COFFEE MONROE

ARTICLE BY MEREDITH MCKINNIE
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KELLY MOORE CLARK

With faith, determination and a heart for community, Kennedy Johnson has grown Hebrews Coffee Monroe from a mobile coffee truck into a welcoming gathering place near ULM’s campus. More than just serving coffee, Kennedy is creating a space where everyone has a seat at the table.

For Kennedy Johnson, coffee is more than a business. It’s an invitation to belong. When Kennedy launched Hebrews Coffee Monroe, she had a real estate license, a master’s degree in Business Administration, and a strong sense of faith, but almost no experience making coffee. Instead, she had a willingness to take a leap and learn along the way, trusting that God would put the pieces into place. Today, Hebrews Coffee Monroe has grown from a mobile truck into a coffee trailer and, most recently, a brick-and-mortar shop on the University of Louisiana Monroe campus. Opened September 19th of this year, the shop represents another milestone in a journey Kennedy never planned for herself. Each transition has strengthened Kennedy’s desire to build a business that serves people as much as it serves coffee. 

Originally born in New Orleans, Kennedy grew up in Houston playing travel softball. Her athletic career brought her to ULM after her freshman year at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Recruited by ULM softball coach Molly Fichtner, and encouraged by her parents, Kennedy felt a sense of peace about transferring. Thanks to the additional eligibility granted during the COVID-19 pandemic, she ultimately got the four years with Fichtner she had hoped for. After graduation, Kennedy faced the challenge of figuring out life beyond athletics. She purchased a house at 23 and earned her MBA, but wondered what came next. Although she had plenty of dreams, she felt stuck. During that period, she immersed herself in her faith, reading the Bible cover to cover and developing a deeper trust in what God was asking her to do. “It truly felt like the Lord slingshot me,” she says. “Pulled me back as far as he could and then just propelled me forward.” 

The opportunity surfaced through an unexpected connection. Kennedy’s fiancé (then boyfriend), James, reconnected with his old friend, TJ, who owned the original Hebrews Coffee in Rayville and was considering expanding. Kennedy asked TJ about possibly franchising, and TJ said yes. Within three months, Kennedy went from knowing little about the coffee industry to attending barista training, opening a business bank account, learning the administrative details of running a business, and, most importantly, pulling an espresso shot. Kennedy’s love for coffee developed during college, when softball road trips introduced her to local coffee shops across the Sun Belt. Morning runs with teammates ended at neighborhood cafes. Those experiences showed Johnson how coffee shops could become gathering places, connecting people to communities outside of their daily routines. 

Hebrews Coffee Monroe began with a truck affectionately named Juniper. It was a starting point, but not an easy one. The truck lacked basic conveniences and required access to an external water source. Its size and limited mobility made reaching some events difficult, especially weddings in rural locations. After about six months, Kennedy invested in a trailer. She picked it up in Tennessee and within days worked a friend’s wedding in Alexandria. The transition proved worthwhile. The trailer was easier to maneuver, faster to set up, and no longer dependent on a water spigot. With fewer logistical obstacles, Kennedy could pursue more events and grow the business. Notably, Kennedy made a point of thanking the people who helped her succeed. During her first six months, she estimates she wrote about 60 handwritten thank-you notes to customers and event organizers. In the following year, she wrote more than 160. The notes took weeks to complete, but customers still tell her how much they appreciate the sentiment. For Kennedy, the personal touch matters. It reflects the relationships that sustain a small business and the gratitude she feels toward her supporters.

That same spirit shapes her relationships with other coffee vendors. As more mobile coffee businesses appeared around Monroe, Kennedy chose collaboration over competition. She reached out to other owners to exchange ideas, compare recipes, and learn from their experiences. The support she received when first starting out made her eager to help others, reinforcing the sense of community that first drew Kennedy to Monroe. 

When Kennedy began considering a permanent location for Hebrews, she and James repeatedly prayed and walked around the ULM campus, looking for the right space. Eventually, Kennedy noticed a building on University Avenue that belonged to Rowland Road Baptist Church. After several conversations with church leadership, she secured an agreement to lease the property. Renovations began in late April, bringing an entirely new set of lessons. Converting the building from residential to commercial use required updates to meet accessibility standards and building codes, adding time and expense to the project. Kennedy spent long days painting, renovating, and working through details she had never considered before. Yet the renovation also reflected the mutual support that has become a cornerstone of the business. Rowland Road Church members helped with the buildout, and the church can also use the space for ministry, creating a partnership that benefits both sides. 

Inside the space, donated church pews provide seating, with cushions for comfort. The Bible study room features a table surrounded by an assortment of chairs that coordinate without matching. Kennedy deliberately chose a welcoming, lived-in atmosphere rather than a polished environment. “I really wanted to make sure that people didn’t feel like they had to fit in to come to the coffee shop,” she says. “There was a seat for them at the table.” Her goal is for everyone, from ULM students to travelers passing through Monroe, to feel at home. 

That welcome has already reached beyond the local community. One couple visiting from Michigan discovered Hebrews Coffee while searching online for Christian coffee shops during a trip celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary. The woman read the business’s story, visited the shop, and returned the next day with her husband to purchase a T-shirt. The encounter serves as a reminder that a small business can reach people in ways its owner never expects. 

While Hebrews Coffee maintains a consistent signature menu across all three locations, Kennedy creates the monthly specials in Monroe herself. She loves experimenting with seasonal flavors and developing drinks customers might not find anywhere else. Kennedy makes the flavors by hand each week, giving the menu a personal touch. One fall favorite is Butter Beer, a combination of salted caramel and homemade butterscotch, inspired by the season’s association with Harry Potter films. Another popular drink, the Toasty Ghosty, combines chocolate, vanilla, and toasted marshmallow. Kennedy finishes it by torching marshmallow fluff on top, creating a playful drink that is visually memorable and flavorful. 

Kennedy’s faith influences her definition of success. Generosity is not an afterthought; it is the purpose. She recognizes how easily small business owners can become consumed by revenue growth and the next milestone. Her faith reminds her that the value of a business cannot be measured solely by its bottom line. That outlook also deepened her attachment to Monroe, a place she cannot imagine leaving. Returning to campus with a business of her own allows Kennedy to see the relationships she built as a student continue to grow. The coffee shop, the trailer, the church partnerships, and the handwritten thank-you notes all showcase people showing up for one another. Kennedy admits still having plenty to learn, understanding that growth will bring new challenges. In fact, she considers failure one of the most valuable experiences for an entrepreneur. Every mistake teaches her about preparation, and every new step begins with a willingness to trust the process and move forward. 

Kennedy encourages customers to come to Hebrews Coffee for a latte, a seasonal drink, a smoothie bowl, or any of the community events that Hebrews hosts. People may find a favorite drink or a conversation that lasts longer than expected. What she most hopes people discover is a place where they belong. Because for Kennedy, serving coffee was never just about the coffee. It was always about who might gather around the table. 

Make a connection with Hebrews:
Location: 109 University Ave, Monroe, LA 71201
Email: hebrewscoffeemonroe@gmail.com
Website: hebrewscoffeemonroe.com
Facebook: Hebrews Coffee Monroe 
Instagram: @hebrewscoffeemonroe
TikTok: @hebrewscoffeemonroe