Brewing Community for More Than 30 Years at Poet’s Coffee

Coffee has always been only part of the story at Poet’s Coffee.

Since opening in the mid-1990s, the beloved Cookeville institution has served as a gathering place where friendships are formed, ideas are shared, students study, and community happens. What began as a single coffeehouse on the Square has grown into three locations while maintaining the welcoming atmosphere that first made it a local favorite.

The name itself reflects those roots. Originally known as The Premier Coffee House of the Upper Cumberland, the business was founded during a time when coffeehouses were closely associated with poets, authors, artists, and creative communities. The name Poet’s on the Square emerged from that culture, honoring the role coffeehouses played as places of connection and conversation.

Over the years, Poet’s has evolved alongside the community it serves. Under its current ownership, led by owner Jeremy Crabtree, the business has expanded its menu, grown its footprint, and launched a brand refresh designed to enhance the guest experience while preserving the character that customers have come to love.

Yet the true legacy of Poet’s extends far beyond coffee. Generations of Tennessee Tech students have made it their study spot. Friends have gathered around its tables, business meetings have taken place over cups of coffee, and countless first dates and life conversations have unfolded within its walls.

As Cookeville’s longest-running coffee shop, Poet’s has earned a lasting place in the fabric of the community, not simply because of what it serves, but because of the connections it continues to create every day.

For more information follow Poets on Facebook or visit their website.

by Chelsea Dartez, photos by Abby Weeden