Keith Oliver; his wife, Jillian; and their children, Caden and Sophia, are excited about opening the family’s new business in New Palestine.
Submitted photo
NEW PALESTINE — For as long as Keith Oliver can recall, he’s had a dream of one day opening his own business. He always told himself when the timing was right, he’d make it happen, and he’s holding true to his word.
Oliver, who worked for years at the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department, will open a doughnut and coffee shop, 3:17 Beans & Donuts, with his wife, Jillian, in coming weeks.
“We always wanted a business, and it all was about fitting it in at the right time,” Oliver said.
The shop is named in part after a Bible verse, Colossians 3:17, that says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
The menu will have a variety of doughnuts, coffees and other beverages. A lunch menu will offer meat and grilled cheese sandwiches and chips as well as smoothies.
“We want to serve everyone in this community,” Oliver said. “The real key to our success is going to be giving people proper service.”
The business, 5933 W. U.S. 52, will be open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Saturday hours will be from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday hours will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We want to keep our doors open obviously and have personal touch,” Oliver said. “We’re not just looking to serve a number, but we want to know people’s names so when they come in we can say, ‘Hey, how’s it going?’”
Oliver’s wife, who has a teaching degree, decided since their two children are in school full time, now would be the time to follow the dream of opening a business.
“Instead of her going back into teaching, we decided to do something different,” Oliver said. “We started looking a few months ago and just felt opening a business was the right thing to do.”
The couple signed the lease at the end of May and have been working to renovate the storefront, which is next to Gettinger Family Custom Meats in the strip mall on the southeast corner of U.S. 52 and Mt. Comfort Road.
Oliver, who lives in northeastern Hancock county, said he and Jillian spent countless hours doing research and talking with other coffee shop owners and settled on New Palestine because of all the growth in the area.
“I was a reserve officer there for seven years, and I have lots of ties out here and we’ve always liked the community and the area,” Oliver said. “We like the support, the way the community wraps around businesses.”
They’ll enough seating for about 20 customers, and the dining area will have television sets and wi-fi. A room that can hold six to eight people will be available for groups.
The Olivers are hoping to make a good impression.
“Once they come in, we know they’ll fall in love with it and it will be continued success from there,” Oliver said.
Oliver will continue to work as an independent contractor for Stellar Services, a supplier of commissary goods to jails, while he and his wife get the business off the ground.
“I want to be able to spend as much time as I can in the coffee shop and get it up and running so I’ll do the other job when I can,” Oliver said.
Oliver and his wife will be working full time but will be hiring a couple workers to help fill shifts. If all goes well with the location in New Palestine, they’d like to open another 3:17 Beans & Donuts shop in McCordsville in early 2023.
