Meet Nicole Bennington-Horton, owner of Crossroads Cafe and Catering. I know her as a mom because I had the joy of teaching two of her five kids in first grade. But you’ll recognize her as the face behind Crossroads. While raising her five children in the Harrisonburg area, she began catering by accident. Nicole began, as most small businesses do, with a hobby and passion. She enjoyed feeding teachers, sports teams, musicals, and then started catering weddings for friends.
Before long, Nicole and her husband Heath found themselves catering 5 days a week, needed help, and decided to rent a storefront in their current space on Spotswood Trail in Penn Laird. The cafe has expanded since opening in October 2019 to include Meal Prep, corporate lunches, catering full-time, and specialty bakery items.
Popping by the cafe for lunch often turns into return trips with laptops and planners as Nicole welcomes customers to grab a table, enjoy free WiFi and tackle to-do lists. The menu not only includes market fresh salads, coffees, smoothies, and teas, but a nod to each family member with a specialty sandwich–The Lexi, The Papa Bear, The Benny, The Loaded Logan, The K-Bug, and The Kyra.
When Nicole isn’t busy catering or serving customers at the Cafe, she’s reading and researching new menu items, playing with their three dogs and cat, spending time with her kids, and cheering for Spotswood High sports teams. Drop by the Crossroads Cafe for a sandwich, salad or soup, prepped ready-to-bake family meals, some work-away-from-home time, and a warm welcome. Be forewarned, once you make your first trip to the bakery case, you won't be able to resist going back for one of Heath's baked goods on your next visit.
Fun Facts about Nicole:
Favorite thing to cook: Pasta! Any kind, any variety–alfredo, pesto, red sauce. My family loves it when I cook pasta for dinner.
Favorite thing about running the cafe: The relationships I make in the community.
Favorite menu item: Anything Heath makes–I LOVE all his baked goods.
Favorite thing about being a business owner: I’ve always loved event planning, from designing themes to styling catering tables. It’s definitely my favorite part.
Connect with Nicole and the Crossroads Cafe and Catering team at welovecrossroads.com, https://www.instagram.com/crossroadscafe22846/ on Instagram, and https://www.facebook.com/welovecrossroads on Facebook.
Images courtesy of the Bennington-Horton family, October Grace Media, Ameigh Photography, and Ameigh Fellows Media.