Common Grounds opened in 2019 with the specific intention of hiring workers with special needs.
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri — Good morning at the corner of Merchant and Third in downtown St. His Genevieve.
Welcome to Common Grounds, a coffee shop where something unique is brewed.
“The coffee is good,” raved customer Tammy Hansen. “And the food never disappoints.”
But the secret ingredient of this café is not what they serve, but who serves them.
“They’re always happy. I don’t know if I’ve ever walked in here and seen someone in a bad mood,” said County Deputy Sheriff Jason Schott with a laugh.
Common Grounds opened in 2019 with the specific intention of hiring workers with special needs.
“They learn how to operate the cash register,” explains general manager Pam Billings. “They learn the difference between a muffin and a scone. They know how to operate the Frankie machine that makes our drinks.”
Sam Steagall, 24, has been here since day one.
“What do you like about this job?” we asked.
“Everything! I love my job,” said Steagall.
That seems to be the theme. No complaints about the daily grind.
“It’s very lively and bright here,” said Nicky Ringwald, Sam’s colleague. “You come to work and everyone wants to do the best they can with what they have.”
Keep in mind this is a refreshing change for many of the workers here.
“I’ve had some jobs in the past and haven’t been treated properly,” recalls Jason Hill. “It’s because I have a learning disability. It’s not my fault. I was born with it.”
The coffee shop is funded by a taxable entity in St. Genevieve County called Senate Bill 40. It is chaired by Deputy Sheriff Jason Schott.
They bought an old post office and partnered with Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Company in St. Louis.
“Business is great,” Schott said. “We had a stint with COVID that slowed us down a bit, but we recovered. And we’ve been running strong ever since.”
When asked what the place would bring to Schott’s mind, he became so emotional that he was unable to speak.
But sometimes saying nothing says it all.
We make a difference by respecting our differences.
“So if I had to give a review, one star to four stars, four stars is the best,” asked customer Vickie Bruckerhoff.
“Four!” she said. “Of course. And some!”
common basis. The Missouri coffee shop that found the perfect blend.
