RoseLen’s Coffees & Delights to become ‘Café 61’
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
New venture plans few menu, staff changes
By Trudy Feyereisen
Arthur has been blessed for many years by the fun food and flavors offered at “RoseLen’s Coffees and Delights.” Sisters Rose Plank and Lena Otto have done an amazing job building up this business to the popularity and success it has become today and during the past nine months, there is another entity in our area gaining grounds rapidly – “Project 61 Ministries” located at 1 Liberty Dr. in Sullivan.
Due to the connection between the two establishments, an exciting collaboration has emerged as Dennis and Rose Plank and Lena Otto have donated the business to the ministry. The official closing day for “RoseLen’s” is scheduled for May 16 and the business will be transitioning over to “Café 61” around Memorial Day weekend (with no firm opening date as of yet). Gift cards for RoseLen’s will be honored until the end of July.
The building will undergo some renovations with redecorating (all materials, time and work donated by local businesses), but the menu will only slightly change. “Project 61 Ministries” plans to re-hire all the present staff who desire to remain, while hiring new as well.
Operator Stan Overholt will oversee this transition and the new establishment. He has known Project 61 Ministries administrator Jason Beachy for many years and has been an essential advocate for this type of community collaboration, having experience in both construction and non-profits.
All proceeds from “Café 61” will go directly back into the ministry of “Project 61”. Jason Beachy emphasized, “We really want to continue the community connection that Rose and Dennis Plank and Lena Otto have established. We’re excited about what they have built and want to keep the heart of community with it.”
Stan Overholt added later, “I wanted to be involved because I see the vision here of wanting to connect the community with an important mission that has lasting impact. Having a business whose profits fund a ministry helps the community generate business that gives back to the community through helping support a local worthwhile ministry for years to come. That is our vision and goal.”
“Project 61 Ministries” was established in 2024 and has 5 current residents and two children in “The House of Ruth” – a transition house for women at risk from domestic violence, recovering from addiction, or have lost their children to the state. The entire grounds were purchased for just one dollar from a local couple who embraced the vision for the ministry.
Administrator Jason Beachy is joined by his wife and assistant administrator Carol who is also the case manager for “The House of Ruth”. Other staff members include: Jerry Hochstetler (maintenance), Josiah Overholt (2nd Maintenance), Yisrael and Wendy Warren (Directors of “The House of Ruth” who live on site), Maria Gingerich (resident advisor who lives at “The House of Ruth”), Janita Kauffman (daycare director), Carol Kauffman (secretary), and Rochelle Otto (floater and social media). Oversight for the staff and team come from the board that includes: Dennis Plank, Merv Yoder, Jason Helmuth, Greg Helmuth, and Brian Kauffman.
Keep a lookout on social media for an open house for “Project 61 Ministries” sometime in August and the column “Arthur Through My Eyes” in this newspaper for more updates on this fascinating endeavor. “Café 61” is looking forward to serving you this summer!