Update your maps, Fort Smith, there’s a new coffee spot in town! The Artistic Bean is open and located at 615 Garrison Avenue (next door to Landry’s New Orleans Cafe).
he Artistic Bean roasts their coffee on site and their espresso machine was hand-made in Italy. The baristas will have full control of the brews, resulting in the freshest coffee. Everything made in the coffee house is natural or organic.
Also, the Artistic Bean will be promoting other small businesses by selling their items in their coffee house such as fresh local honey by Benny Westphaul, cinnamon rolls by Calico County, and muffins by Michael’s Mansion.
The family-owned franchise originated from the Gateway to the Smoky Mountains in Townsend, Tennessee. But, Fort Smith’s new location has it’s own historical theme “Sister city to Cisterna, Italy.”
The idea to open the Artistic Bean in Fort Smith, AR came from Bev Ramsey, the owner of Pink Ribbon Boutique. While on a business trip to confer with Jamie Doss, the owner of Bethesda Skincare in Tennessee, Bev delegated at Jamie’s husbands’ coffee house the Artistic Bean and tasted coffee like no other. She shared the coffee with her husband and came to the consensus that they both wanted one. Days later a building was selected and their son Devon Ramsey, who is managing the coffee house, went to train in Townsend learning the craft to keep the franchise intact.
Devon Ramsey, owner, and operator graduated from Southside High in 2014. Growing up his parents, Stan and Bev Ramsey, both being successful business owners inspired his keening initiative and fearless ambition. Which are the skills that are now being put to good use in the Artistic Bean along with the Southside High Alumni Jeremy Trobaugh and Peyton Yoes.
The alluring artist Pat Riggs, will have a studio inside of the coffee house. She will be painting the former banks walls to mirror the streets of Cisterna. Come see her in live action painting every Saturday to see the city of scene of Italy come to life. Her paintings are so carefully detailed, you’d think you were looking at a photograph. Specializing in nature art, wood behind the counter is remarkable and extremely realistic.
