CROWN POINT | Free speech flows freely at the Conservative Café.

It's painted on the walls with sayings like, "Work, It Does a Body Good" and "Help Build a Strong America, Discipline Your Children."

T-shirts bear slogans not seen in retail outlets: "Silly Liberals -- Paychecks Are for Work" and "The best social program is a job" -- Ronald Reagan. Posters on the walls recall an earlier time in America.

For the past year, Conservative Café has been serving up "Coffee the Right Way." Owner David Beckham has a dream that some day towns across the United States will have a Conservative Café in which people can gather and speak their minds.

And his dream is causing more than just a local stir of the coffee cup.

To date, Beckham said he has received 43 requests to franchise his right-leaning coffeehouse from would-be franchise owners in South Carolina, Georgia, California, Texas and throughout the Midwest.

And national news programs as well as Gov. Mitch Daniels have visited the establishment because of its novel theme.

Beckham said his partners -- wife, Jill, and Bill McCall, of Crown Point -- are reviewing the franchising options. However, it takes "so much money to set up a franchising system. My family's money is wrapped up in this place. I'm looking for someone who has a passion for the concept and for taking this small concept nationally," he said.

If the franchising works out, Beckham said, "This could give Starbucks a run for their money. If this goes national, donations will be given to the families of fallen soldiers and disabled soldiers." Beckham admits he has his critics.

"When you put your beliefs on the line, you set yourself up for a lot of criticism," he said.

But Beckham does want customers to know that his conservative motif is good-natured and that people of all political beliefs are welcome in his store.

"I'm not getting on my soapbox, and I'm not telling you who to vote for," he said. "There is no political paraphernalia here. I'm not a radical right, crazy religious guy."

The former art teacher and construction worker said he thought of the idea for a conservative coffeehouse after visiting other establishments.

"When I went to private coffeehouses, I found them to be left-leaning, hippie hangouts," the 43-year old Crown Point resident said. "The berets and poetry of the Beatnik era have been replaced by people who haven't found their place in life. They're living off their parents' credit cards."

A closed gas station originally stood at 201 N. Main St. Tearing it down and building the two-story, 4,800-square foot Conservative Café fulfilled his long-time dream, Beckham said.