Nestled at 109 West Main Street in downtown Lebanon stands a stately, rustic building that boasts over a century of history. Built in the late 1800s, this site has seen over a century of changes, acting as a market, a deli and more over the years. For the past decade, it has remained vacant, awaiting its next chapter. Freedom Church has proudly taken on that role, transforming this historic building into Oaks on Main, a coffee shop and event center.
The journey began in August 2022 when the Boone County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) reached out to Freedom Church. The building owner was searching for someone to buy and revitalize the building, and Freedom Church was the first organization the EDC thought of.
Nathan Ayers, the business director at Freedom Church and the lead on this project, recalls the excitement of those early discussions. “We started having a ton of conversations internally at first,” he says. “We didn’t really think it was a possibility, but the more we talked about it, the more that we realized that it did fit into our vision of who we wanted to be for our city, and so we decided we’d do it.”
Finally, in December 2022 the purchase was finalized and Freedom Church was the official owner. Since then, the team has been diligently working to bring Oaks on Main to life.
Ayers values the importance of community, and envisions Oaks on Main as a community cornerstone. In addition to serving coffee, Oaks on Main will host events on its upper floor, including church gatherings and after-school programs. “It can be a second home for some people, a space that brings joy and comfort into people’s hectic lives,” he says.
Oaks on Main plans to partner with various local bakeries and vendors to keep their food local and fresh. While the coffee shop is still under construction and anticipated to open in 2025, the Oaks Mobile espresso cart is already serving coffee for those not wanting to wait.
The interior of Oaks on Main will reflect the beauty and historical charm of its outside walls. “It’s going to be beautiful,” Ayers promises. “We’re preserving many of the historic elements like the tin ceilings on both floors, and a large skylight upstairs that spans around 30 feet long and 10 feet wide.” The design will blend these historical features with new wooden pallets and abundant greenery. “I think it’s going be a space that makes people want to come back.”
The response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive. Support from both city officials and local residents has been invaluable. “We’ve received tremendous support,” Ayers says. “Seeing how excited people are for this, and the way that people are rallying behind it, has been really wonderful.”
This support is exemplified by the Boone County EDC’s 180 Makeover program, which provides funding to select businesses. Oaks on Main was one of five downtown Lebanon businesses to benefit from this initiative.”When we found that out, we were ecstatic,” Ayers says. “It was incredible.”
Oaks on Main is slated to open in early 2025. In the meantime you can enjoy their coffee at Oaks Mobile at Freedom Church every Sunday, and at organizations like Dull’s Tree Farm.
