From Classroom to Coffee: The Story Behind Lakeland’s Shadrachs Coffee

Jonathan and Anna-Marie Penn never set out to become business owners. Their professional paths began in education, where both devoted years to teaching and serving students in the Memphis area. Yet today, the former educators are the owners of Lakeland’s Shadrachs Coffee, the only Shadrachs location in Tennessee.

The Penns’ journey started in 2014 when they each moved to Memphis as part of the Memphis Teacher Residency program. Anna-Marie taught at Soulsville Middle School and Hamilton High School, while Jonathan taught at Lester Elementary School and New Hope Christian Academy. Teaching was more than a job for them—it was a calling. After marrying, the couple chose to put down roots in Memphis, fully expecting their future to remain in the classroom.

That expectation changed when an unexpected opportunity arrived. The founder of Shadrachs Coffee, a brand established in Jonesboro, Arkansas, in 2004, reached out with a half-joking but ultimately life-altering invitation. “It’s never too late to give up on your dreams,” he quipped as he asked the Penns to consider opening a Shadrachs franchise in Tennessee.

For Anna-Marie, the opportunity carried special meaning. As a teenager, she was the third employee ever hired by Shadrachs Coffee, working there throughout high school and college. Nearly 15 years later, the same company that shaped her early work experience was offering her the chance to help lead its expansion.

When property became available along U.S. 64 in Lakeland in 2021, just off Interstate 40, the Penns recognized it as the ideal location for a fast-paced, drive-thru coffee shop. The Lakeland store, which opened in 2024, is now part of the Shadrachs family of locations, which includes 14 others across Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee.

After a year and a half in business, Jonathan and Anna-Marie say they are grateful they took the leap of faith. What began as a career in education has evolved into a thriving local business and community gathering place. Their story is a reminder that sometimes the most rewarding opportunities come not from carefully laid plans, but from the courage to embrace a new calling.

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