Marketplace Cafe

The 5th Street Marketplace Cafe gives you the feel of sitting at a side-walk cafe with cobblestone streets, surrounding stores and gardens while you're enjoying your lunch. The selections from the menu are sandwiches served on sour dough, croissant or pita; salads, sides, soup of the day, quiche, and drinks... one of which is Ruthie's special fruit tea. The variety of scrumptious desserts are made by Charity. All meals are prepared fresh so allow time and enjoy the experience of good food in a unique atmosphere.

The wall murals were painted by Judy Lucas and each one has a special meaning for the owners, Ruthie & Jerry Kerley. Trade-A- Plane was the last to own the building, so it is represented over the water scene as you enter the cafe with a Trade-A-Plane banner behind a plane. Jerry made the sailboat for his grandson from a knothole he got while drilling at the cafe. Judy named it the SS Jerry and added it to the water. The picture behind the counter of two ladies laughing represents Annie Crabtree enjoying time with a friend, as she often does. Annie and her husband, Jim, own the Cumberland County Playhouse.
The shop murals:
* Jam'n J's Jazz Club. Jam'n J's are the first initials of Jerry and Ruthie's
grandchildren, Jake, Audree, Maddie, Nolen and Justin.
* The newspaper stand represents the local papers.
* The Cafe of the Arts represents the local downtown arts. Hotel Taylor was once owned by Jerry's parents who lived upstairs while running their business called "Strings and Things". Mrs. Roosevelt stayed at the hotel when she visited our area to begin the Homestead project. The Book of David on the table is for Judy's husband who helped with the painting.
* Mikki's Frame Shop is where Ruthie gets her framing done by her good friend,
Mikki.
* Page Auction is owned by Ruthie's parents. Ruthie worked there as she was
growing up and on occasions now.
* Designs by Judy shows some of the artwork designs Judy sells in the gift shop.
* Ruthie's Antiques represents the antique and lawn decor business she had in the white house across the street. The Rosie the Riveter picture depicts Ruthie's ability to do anything she puts her mind to. Thank goodness she does because from her vision, ideas and determination the 5th Street Marketplace and Cafe was created.

There is an interesting history to the 5th Street Marketplace building. Many years ago, it started out as a grist mill where the cafe and kitchen is now. Eventually the lower part of the building was closed in and an upstairs was added for a Western Auto Store. During a period of time, the downstairs was where the Cumberland County Playhouse made their set designs, customs, had rehearsals, and sometimes where the actors rested. When the building became vacant for years, Ruthie had a vision of what she could do with it, so she and her husband, Jerry, purchased it from Trade-A-Plane when it went up for auction and they began the renovation. Her vision became a reality as to what it is today, a unique gift shop and cafe that is forever changing; recently adding Charity's Bake shop and the Southern Espresso Coffees.