Come. Sit. Stay.
Though these words are usually reserved for favorite pooches, entrepreneur Shelby Dowdy-Scrivnor proudly proclaims these words to her favorite customers, both regulars and those she’s looking forward to meeting. As owner of Tully’s Coffee Co., she invites everyone to come in, sit down with a delicious treat, and stay as long as they like.
Raised in Tullahoma, Dowdy-Scrivnor has a strong connection with her hometown. Her mother, Stephanie Dowdy, is a broker at Freedom Realty, and her father, Scott Dowdy, is a contractor. Following her parents’ examples, Dowdy-Scrivnor has taken the initiative to join the next generation of movers and shakers, making good things happen in Tullahoma.
“I’m invested in Tullahoma. I graduated from Tullahoma High School and received my associate degree in marketing and design from Motlow,” Dowdy-Scrivnor said. “I wanted to mix creativity with business, so I came up with the idea of starting a hobby coffee trailer business.”
Her coffee idea blossomed more quickly than she anticipated. When a building became available in the heart of downtown Tullahoma, she knew it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up. Tully’s Coffee Co. launched in December 2025, and she became the full-time owner of a growing business.
Shelby and her husband, Trenton Scrivnor, married in August 2025, but the year before, Shelby found the canine love of her life — Tully, her rescued, full-blooded Dalmatian puppy. Named after Shelby’s beloved hometown, Tully became the coffee shop’s namesake and mascot.
Tully’s Coffee Co. is not your average coffeehouse. Customers are greeted at the front door by artist Allie Heffington’s whimsical pup and kitty portraits. Outside, a larger-than-life mural of Tully by artist Whitney Herrington watches over the back patio. Additional artwork by 19-year-old artist Christopher Verdin lines the long hallway leading to the patio, with some pieces available for purchase. Other items created by local artisans are also available throughout the shop.
“We use and sell bags of Muletown Beans from Columbia, Tennessee,” Shelby said. “We’re also fans of Blue Monarch’s Out of the Blue Granola from Monteagle. We use the granola in our acai bowls and make it available for purchase.”
Shelby is a member of the Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce and enjoys working with other local businesses and organizations. Tully’s welcomes small vendors, such as EKC Permanent Jewelry, for pop-up Girls’ Nights Out. It’s not uncommon to find Tully’s at community events, such as the Tullahoma Christmas Parade or Coffee, Canines and Crawlers, a Jeep enthusiast meet. Local churches have met at Tully’s for Bible studies and even an after-hours speed-dating event. The Tullahoma Animal Shelter is particularly dear to Shelby’s heart, and she regularly contributes to its fundraisers.
What really makes Tully’s Coffee Co. delightfully different is that the building Tully’s calls home is somewhat of a rescue itself. Once vacant with little promise, the building came to life when Joe Dendy purchased and restored it.
“You can feel the love poured into this place,” Shelby said. “Joe has spent countless hours building everything by hand. He was able to take beautiful wood from old buildings being torn down in other towns and repurpose it into our cabinets. He cut the mosaic stones for the storefront and did so much more. He is such a blessing.”
Though the coffee shop continues to thrive, the story of Tully’s Coffee Co. carries a sad element. When Shelby rescued her Dalmatian puppy, she was unaware that Tully had been born with an incurable condition called megaesophagus. Sadly, Tully later passed away.
Determined to find hope in the trauma, Shelby now donates a portion of the profits to the Washington State University research group studying canine megaesophagus. The Upright Canine Brigade (UCB) hosts an annual UCB Calendar Contest every June in honor of Canine Megaesophagus Month to help raise money for research. Tully was featured in April 2026.
“Though losing Tully was heartbreaking, we have learned to turn that trauma into something good,” Shelby said. “We loved her and are grateful for her. None of this would have ever happened without Tully.”
Shelby is thrilled with the business’s progress and continues to come up with fun ideas for both customers and their pets. The shop is dog-friendly, and pup cups await.
“I was concerned at first that we could lose customers because the building is not suitable for a drive-thru,” Shelby said. “But I think people enjoy it and don’t mind. Our whole vibe is about taking time to enjoy the coziness, the space, the free Wi-Fi, and the coffee.”
Tully’s Coffee Co. is more than a flashy “pick-me-up.” It’s a cozy retreat from the business of life, where people are expected to come in, sit down, and stay a while. GN
Tully’s Coffee Co. is located at 127 W. Lincoln St. in Tullahoma and is open Tuesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
