In just a few short weeks, local residents will no longer have to travel out of town to get a specialty cup of coffee or gourmet sandwich, but they can enjoy such delicatessens locally.

“The Coffee Shoppe,” which will open Monday, Nov. 14 inside the former Fred’s Flower Shop on Broad Street, will be the area’s “Small town Starbucks.”

Selma native and shop owner Jackie Smith, who spent years in city government, automotive industry, finance and health care, wanted a change of pace. Smith said the vision for the shop came in July when her husband suggested she check out the former flower shop as an ideal location.

“I asked my husband, ‘what could I do that’d be something fun, something here at home that would get the community involved and I’d be proud of?’” Smith said. “At first my husband said an ice cream shop … the idea of a coffee shop was born.”

The Shoppe, Smith said, will feature specialty coffee drinks such as gourmet coffee, latte, frappe and ice coffee, homemade pastries, sandwiches and a variety of salads. The shop will also have Wi-Fi access and a drive-thru window for those who are in a hurry, Smith said.

“For breakfast it will be ‘grab and go,’” Smith said. “There will be muffins, scones and bagels and for lunch there will be signature Paninis … I’ll be doing a lot of the cooking with my first cousin. I’m fortunate to come from a family of cooks … I love to cook.”

Selma-Dallas County Chamber of Commerce director Sheryl Smedley said the shop should be well received by the community.

“It most definitely will … because that’s what everyone’s been wanting,” Smedley said. “It will be a community-minded business … good for all ages, and another great meeting/greeting spot.”

In connection with the shop’s motto “more than just a cup of coffee,” Smith’s mission is to get the community involved.

“I want it to become a popular community destination — a very relaxing environment,” Smith said. “This vision has been embraced by so many people in the community … I’m overwhelmed by the positive response.”

Along with the extensive menu, Smith said she plans to hold different events every month in the shop to engage the community.

“For Breast Cancer Awareness we’ll wear all pink and donate proceeds to the American Cancer Society,” Smith said. “We’ll have something during Jubilee in March … and in December we’ll have ‘Cocoa and Cookies with Santa’, where kids will write letters to Santa and we’ll serve either chocolate milk or a blended drink with chocolate chip cookies.”

Beginning in January, Smith’s shop will hold a “First Friday” event. Afterward, activities will be offered every first Friday in each month, Smith said.

“In January, we’ll have a ‘sip and stroke’, where we’ll engage local arts and have people ‘sip’ their cappuccino and ‘stroke’ their painting; it will be a freelance thing … every special event will cater to something happening in Selma.”

Smith wants her coffee shop to be the best.

“It’s a passion for me,” Smith said. “Since July I’ve done more research — hours and hours, networking and learning as much about the coffee industry as possible. I pledge to offer my customers the best tasting coffee in Selma … it will be fun.”