Our Story
Since 2009, Lee’s has been a staple restaurant and coffee shop in Downtown Laurel. Leottis “Lee” Barnett opened the cafe with a vision of the downtown area coming back alive. She was a visionary and a consummate hostess, and there’s even a park named in her honor right next door — the Leottis Barnett Pocket Park.
In 2017, Aunt Lee passed away, and her great-nephew Dell Smith took up her cause, adding his own spin to her vision. Having lived in Dallas and Phoenix, Dell developed a passion for specialty coffee, quality tea, and spaces where people gather. He brought that passion home — and today he roasts every coffee we serve, right here in Laurel.
These days the family is bigger. In 2024, Mulvi’s Coffee Co. (now Crossroads Coffee – Midtown) in Hattiesburg joined the fold. Different rooms, same idea: good coffee, warm welcome, no hurry.
