By Judy Clabes
NKyTribune editor
Ken Wynn has lived in Ludlow all his life, a 3rd generation resident. He is serving his second term as mayor but it’s what he’s serving in the family cafe, Wynners Cup, that is making a life-long dream come true.
Right there in the heart of downtown Ludlow — where “wonderful things are happening” — Ken, his brother Steve, and his nephew Andy offer the “best coffee and food” around.
But they have also brewed up a popular gathering place, where neighbors meet neighbors, friends connect, couples have their wedding receptions in the spacious banquet room upstairs, organizations hold meetings or fundraisers, students enjoy free WiFI — or the adventurous take a fencing lesson. And, then, there are the new distillery next door and the “under renovation” Ludlow theater nearby.
“It’s always been a dream of ours to open a family business in our hometown,” Ken says.
The historic building was once the home of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, built in 1940 for an organization that emphasized patriotism and good works in Ludlow. Since then it has been a Kroger store, a dollar store, a furniture store, a pool hall and pharmacy — twice.
Ken himself actually worked for one of those pharmacies for more than 27 years, most of those in the building his family now owns.
With live entertainment on Friday nights or a special art show, like the one on this Friday’s schedule, the Wynns also hope to make their cafe a special destination for visitors as well.
“I’ve had an interest in art my whole life, and I just wanted to share it with the community,” Ken said.
The cafe has had three art shows this year. The fourth is coming up, with an opening reception to be held Friday, October 23, 6-9 p.m., featuring Cameroon visual artist and cultural anthropologist, Benjamin Betsem. They hope to have a final one in December — in which all the previous art exhibitors come back in a kind of year-end reunion.
Wynn found Betsem through some arts organizations connections in Cincinnati, loved his work and invited him to share it through a show at the cafe.
Betsem is an internationally known artist-painter who shares his artwork around the world, demonstrating its connection to the philosophers, people, and cultures of Africa.
He came to the U.S. in 2006 for an arts residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts and has travelled all over the U.S. visiting schools and colleges and sharing his art and knowledge.
“Art is the Real World” is Betsem’s theme.
“I believe that in this changing world, in order for each of us to move forward, we much learn from other cultures than ours by accepting cultural diversity,” he says. “Art is one way to achieve this goal.”
Next month, Betsem will be at Cornell College in Iowa. But on Friday, October 23, you can meet him and see his work at Wynners Cup Cafe in Ludlow.
See more Wynners Cup Cafe at their website.
