Coffee shop in St. Louis has workers with special needs
ST. GENEVIEVE, Miss. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - At the corner of Merchant and Third in downtown St. Genevieve, they're putting the good in "Good Morning."
Welcome to Common Grounds, a coffee shop where something unique is brewing.
"The coffee is good and the food. I've not had anything that I was disappointed in," said customer Tammy Hansen.
But this cafe's secret ingredient isn't what they're serving. Rather, who's serving it.
"Well, they're always happy. I don't know if I ever walked in here and seen anyone in a bad mood," said Chief Deputy Jason Schott.
Hiring workers with special needs
When Common Grounds opened in 2019, the shop's specific intention was hiring workers with special needs.
"They learn how to run the cash register...learn the difference between the muffins and the scones. They also know how to run the Frankie machine, which makes our drinks," said General Manager Pam Billings.
24-year-old Sam Steagall has been working here since day one.
"I love my job."
And that seems to be an overall theme: No complaints about the daily grind.
"Very lively, upbeat, you know, and come to work and, you know, everybody wants to do the best that they can with what they have," Nikki Ringwald, a 31-year-old employee, spoke.
A refreshing change
Keep in mind for many of the workers here, that's a refreshing change.
"I had several jobs in the past where I did not get treated right. Because I have a learning disability that's not part of my part, that's not my fault that I haven't, I just grew up with it. I was born with it," 35-year-old employee Jason Hill said.
The coffee shop is funded by a taxing entity in St. Genevieve County called Senate Bill 40. Furthermore, Schott is the chairman.
They bought the old post office and then partnered with Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Company out of St. Louis.
"Business is great. We went through the stint with COVID, that kind of slowed us down some, but we recovered out of that. And we've been running strong ever since," Schott continued.
Common Grounds. A Missouri coffee shop that found the perfect blend.
"You can't beat this place," Schott concluded.
Schott says while the coffee is great, the biggest draw for customers is definitely the employees.
