FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 17, 2022
 Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, recognized Beans Café and Bakery of Dry Ridge, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

Dr. Paul entered the following into the Congressional Record:

Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize Beans Café and Bakery of Dry Ridge, Kentucky as the Senate Small Business of the Week.

The road to entrepreneurial success is rarely a straight and narrow path, as Richard Hayhoe and his wife could tell you. The couple moved to Northern Kentucky from Canada in 2010, intent on flipping houses for a living. However, their dream of entering the housing market did not turn out as imagined and in 2011, opportunity presented itself. As Richard looked around his adopted hometown, he saw a struggling doughnut shop with a big “For Sale” sign posted, and decided to act. Thus, Richard Hayhoe’s Beans Café and Bakery was born.

Opened in late 2011, Beans Café and Bakery offers some of the finest confections available in Kentucky. Between fresh donuts, muffins, and a variety of other pastries, customers are not left wanting, as his store provides just about any morning pick-me-up one could hope for. In addition to keeping their ovens busy, Beans Café of course keeps their coffee pots full so that their regular customers can enjoy a fresh cup on their morning commute. Despite their name, Beans Café and Bakery is not just a popular breakfast site; it is a one-stop shop for any meal: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Beans Café boasts a delicious menu of sandwiches on their signature bread, wraps, soups, and salads. Beans Café and Bakery also has plenty of options for dessert, including ice cream and hand-spun milkshakes perfect for a warm summer evening spent with family and friends.

Soon after Beans Café and Bakery opened their doors, residents of Dry Ridge came in droves. Often times Richard found their reputation preceded them, as local hotel and bed-and-breakfast owners insisted their travelers make time for Beans Café. When the Ark Encounter exhibit opened nearby in 2016, that new flood of visitors helped to propel an already growing business into a new phase of expansion, moving to a different location right off the highway. Beans Café and Bakery has only continued to grow since then, even opening up a separate kitchen space in order to meet the ever-growing demand for their delicious baked goods.

In addition to their excellence in the kitchen, Richard Hayhoe has made Beans Café and Bakery a place for community involvement, hosting a monthly get together for Christians wanting to engage in the realm of public policy and local government. Beans Café and Bakery also offers classes for junior bakers, providing a fun and educational atmosphere for young children to learn about the baking craft. 

When Richard Hayhoe came to Kentucky, he ventured south from his native land to pursue a career that he soon realized was not all that it was chalked up to be. Instead of giving up on Dry Ridge or Kentucky entirely, he stayed and made his home by opening a business that caters to its residents. Richard Hayhoe is the embodiment of the type of perseverance inherent to small business owners. That is why Beans Café and Bakery has seen such success—it is led by a dedicated and hardworking team who know how to treat their customers right. Congratulations to Richard and the entire team at Beans Café and Bakery. I look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in Kentucky.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Paul continues the tradition of honoring America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship oversees proposed legislation on matters relating to the Small Business Administration and investigates all problems relating to America’s small businesses.

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