Rooted in History, Roasted Ethically
A coffee shop can tell you a lot about a town. Some are grab-and-go spots. Others become unofficial meeting places where familiar faces seem to appear at every table. Lem’s Cafe in downtown Bardstown falls firmly into that second category. Opened in 2024 by Amanda Reed Ogilvie, the cafe was built around three simple ideas: coffee, community, and creation.
Behind the coffee and breakfast menu is a family history that helped inspire the cafe itself. Ogilvie is the great-granddaughter of Lem Reed, fondly known as “Uncle Lem” the African American banjo player who welcomed visitors at My Old Kentucky Home in the 1940s and 50s, and Annie Reed, a Kentucky Black Trailblazer who survived the 1917 train wreck in Shepherdsville, Kentucky. Their legacy inspired a business built around hospitality, gathering, and creating safe spaces for others. Today, that takes shape through ethically sourced coffee, homemade buttery biscuits, no extra charge for dairy alternatives, and Sunday hours that make Lem's Cafe a regular stop for both locals and tourists.
Today, Lem's Cafe serves as both a gathering place and a reminder of the stories that helped shape Bardstown. Guests come for coffee and breakfast favorites, but many leave with a deeper appreciation for the history behind the name on the door. That combination of hospitality, heritage, and purpose helped earn Lem's Cafe a 2026 Best of Kentucky Regional Award, a well-deserved recognition for a business already making its mark on the community.
Contact Information
Phone: 801-867-3197
Email: amanda@lemscafe.com
Address: 105 E. Flaget Street, Unit B, Bardstown, KY 40004
Website: lemscafe.com
