Cup A Doodle Brew

 

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Video Transcript

Chuck Denney (UT Institute of Agriculture)
It’s one of her to-die-for specialties - Belgian waffles smothered with lemon syrup, strawberries and whipped cream. “Sinful” is the description often used here. Food so delicious it ought to be illegal. Petrina Compton is always ready to take your order at her coffee house - restaurant called “Cup-a-doodle-brew.”

Petrina Compton (Cup A Doodle Brew)
“I’m a gourmet chef and I enjoy food as far as not fried, but organic and fresh and colorful. Presentation is a lot to me.”

Chuck Denney
Perhaps most unusual about this business is the location - the small town of Dover in Stewart County. It’s patterned a bit after that national chain that rhymes with “jar-ducks,” but Compton has worked hard to give her place a unique flair and build a customer base.

Petrina Compton
“This menu is based solely on my customers. This is listening to the customers, and that’s the only reason why this business has been successful.”

Chuck Denney
Compton saw a market here for a varied menu of specialty foods and beverages.   

Petrina Compton
“Anything from frozen to hot, with or without coffee. Our hot chocolates are phenomenal. A lot of the bakery treats. During the season, of course, we do the pumpkin breads. The cinnamon rolls are available at all times. Cinnamon rolls are huge.”

Chuck Denney
“Cup-a-doodle-brew” is one of several small town companies that are part of “The Gathering.” It’s a rural economic development program from UT Extension - a gathering of entrepreneurs who learn about marketing and how to grow their small businesses.
    The Volunteer State is the land of the small business. 84% of all Tennessee companies have fewer than 20 people, and half a million Tennesseans are self-employed. In this economy, it’s especially important to keep everyone working.

Martha Pile (UT Extension)
“When a dollar is spent in your community at a restaurant or a facility like this, it will turn over seven times.”

Chuck Denney
Montgomery County UT Extension agent Martha Pile offers us sound bites between yummy bites.

Martha Pile
“It’s wonderful. Can’t wait to finish it. It’s really good.”

Chuck Denney
Pile leads groups of business leaders on tours as part of “The Gathering,” and one of her favorites stops is “Cup” in Dover. Pile says Compton is doing this the right way.

Martha Pile
““She surely is, and what I really like about it is she’s doing it her way with her passion.”

Chuck Denney
Meantime this Dover Delight prepares for a hungry lunch crowd. Big city taste with small town charm.

END

NOTE: “The Gathering” includes businesses in several of the Tennessee counties around the Clarksville area.