When you walk into American Freedom Storage and Enterprises on Benton Road, it is like stepping back to the future. You’ll find modern conveniences such as riding mowers and utility trailers, alongside a contemporary take on the old-fashioned general store, stocked with groceries and everyday supplies.

Most intriguing of all, beneath a historic mural that pays homage to Benton’s days as a train depot in the late 1800s, sits the Benton Coffee Depot — offering coffee, ice cream, breakfast, and hearty plate lunches.

“It’s a unique concept nowadays to have an old-school food counter inside another store,” said co-owner Connie Gates.

“Everything has just kept evolving,” added her husband and co-owner Dwayne Gates. “Next thing I knew, it had become a large part of the business.”

The building itself is something of a nesting doll, housing three businesses under one roof. American Freedom Storage provides climate-controlled, non-climate storage, RV, and boat storage, while American Freedom Enterprises focuses on power sports mowers and trailer sales, and Benton Coffee Depot offers a welcoming place to relax and enjoy a hot meal.

The Gateses began their first storage business in 1998 before expanding to additional locations, including two near their current store, with more currently under construction at the site.

Originally, the building was intended solely for climate-controlled storage. That changed when the couple decided to sell trailers. After noticing that everyone, regardless of their purpose, entered through the same front door, Dwayne rearranged the space to create a showroom-style layout.

As the store became a central hub, customers seeking financing for mowers often spent an extended time inside during the approval process. This sparked the idea to set up a small desk with a computer, along with coffee and sodas for patrons. Then Connie’s childhood memories helped shape the concept even further.

“I grew up in a small town called Pleasant Hill in Sabine Parish, and we had a pharmacy with an ice cream counter,” Connie said. “So, I thought I’d add a few ice cream flavors. It quickly evolved with people wanting breakfast, and then they wanted down-home, home-cooked meals for lunch.”

Dwayne noted the timing made sense, as the nearest location for a plate lunch is several miles away in Bossier City. By listening closely to their customers, the Gateses found their idea was met with enthusiasm.

“They told us they would come, and they have,” Dwayne said. “The community has supported us tremendously.”

That same willingness to listen has led Dwayne to expand the store’s inventory based on customer requests. Today, the business offers everything from power sports equipment, mowers, and trailer repairs to deer feed, cattle feed, tires, and grocery items.

“We’ve only been open a year, but we’re trying to be something different,” Dwayne said. “Something you don’t really experience anymore.”

Connie recalled that a mower sales representative with 32 years of experience told her he had never seen a store quite like theirs.

For Dwayne, that uniqueness reflects the realities of modern business.

“Today, you have to get creative,” he said. “In the winter, trailer and mower sales slow down, so you have to offer something else.  And you have to eat every day,” he added with a laugh.

That commitment to service is central to who the Gateses are. Dwayne is a retired Shreveport firefighter and paramedic, as well as a licensed physician assistant.  He recently retired from the Louisiana Army National Guard after serving nearly 44 years and was the longest-serving guardsman at that time. He was deployed during wartime to Iraq and Afghanistan. Connie is a nurse and is currently serving in the Louisiana Army National Guard. She too has deployed to Iraq, Haiti, and also deployed as the Medical Commander to Poland with over 78 troops under her Command. She continues to serve her country and sees retirement in her near future. 

Their military service inspired the name of the businesses — “American Freedom” serves as a reminder of what they have dedicated their lives to. Throughout the store, hand-painted murals reflect their careers in public service and their time in the military.

“We understand service because we’ve been doing it our entire lives,” Dwayne said. “We know how to treat people, and we want them to feel welcome. We’re still serving people with compassion. We love what we do.”

Their goal, he added, is simple: provide a great meal at a great price in a comfortable setting.

“We have regulars who come in every day for breakfast and lunch,” Dwayne said. “We know them by name, and we know what they’re going to order as soon as they walk through the door.”

He said they wouldn’t have it any other way and believe they are in a location poised for continued success.

“This area is growing like crazy,” Dwayne said. “There’s a major lumber mill in Plain Dealing, a newly approved data center, hundreds of new homes going up, and some of the best schools in the state. People are coming. When you look at the projections for the next 10 years, it’s a no-brainer.”

For Connie, serving customers comes naturally.  Because Benton is simply “home.”

“The people here are wonderful,” she said. “Everyone who walks in feels like family.”

American Freedom Storage and American Freedom Enterprises are open 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. See what’s on the menu daily for Benton Coffee Depot on Facebook.