Grounds for Coffee celebrates two years in Logan
Just off Main Street and Center Street, a local coffee shop recently marked its two-year anniversary in Logan after opening its doors on Oct. 11, 2023. Grounds for Coffee, or GFC, was brought to Logan after the owner of the Ogden 25th Street location took a chance to branch out from the franchise’s home location.
Sadie Smith is the owner of the 25th Street and Logan locations of GFC. Smith has been the owner of the 25th Street location since 2009 and discovered the Logan area after visiting over Labor Day weekend in 2022. The thought of to put in a GFC started in December, but the lease for the space was not signed until May.
“Dear universe, I want to open a Grounds in Logan,” Smith said. “I’m ready for it. I know what I’m asking for.”
Smith remembered the rush of support from the local community when GFC opened in Logan and the time it took to get accustomed to the college environment. Business slows in the summer months in Logan due to students going home during the break, but it gets much busier in Ogden during that time.
“Hitting that two-year mark and seeing that the support did not dwindle below any kind of scary number,” Smith said. “We made it through the summer without losing half of our staff because we learned how to balance that … the first year was spent learning that, and the second year was applying that.”
The shop celebrated the anniversary by putting up birthday streamers and signs and posting a series of questions on the location’s Instagram story for a chance to win prizes.
Megan Bedell has been at the Logan GFC since it opened, currently working as a shift lead and a barista.
“It was so fun,” Bedell wrote in an email to The Utah Statesman. “Some of the baristas put birthday hats on the machines and containers.”
The Instagram stories posed questions such as “How many lattes did we sell this year?” and “How many pounds of espresso did we use this year?” Winners were gifted GFC merch.
Hannah Potter is another barista at GFC who helped originate and coordinate the open mic that occurs every Sunday evening in the shop.
“It was a busy Saturday, and all of our customers were so happy to wish us a happy birthday, although some of them thought it was one of our birthdays,” Potter wrote in an email to the Statesman. “This is significant because GFC Logan was such a labor of love from my manager, Sadie Smith. She made this amazing shop largely on her own and had a clear vision. “
After this milestone, GFC is looking to expand its food options and open an online ordering system, according to Smith.
“We always focus on integrating local businesses and connecting with the community, so you’ll probably see more local goods popping up in our shop in the future,” Bedell wrote.
Smith emphasized how supporting GFC directly supports many other local businesses. GFC gets its printing done at Square One Printing & Copying, dairy products from Rosehill Dairy, gluten-free cookies from Good Hope Bakery and cinnamon rolls from Big Bite Breads, another small, local women-owned business.
“GFC can be overwhelming as a first-time customer,” Potter wrote. “Our menu is expansive, and the combinations are endless. Our baristas are always willing to talk you through the menu and help you decide what you want. Coffee shops can be overwhelming especially if you’re new to coffee, but GFC has a welcoming atmosphere and a nice vibe for a place to study, hang out and have a delicious coffee.”
Customers can expect rotating seasonal menus and a high standard of coffee, according to Potter.
GFC will also be releasing a limited amount of coffee-themed advent calendars in mid-November, featuring 25 different coffees: a compilation of almost all of the coffee flavors used at GFC. The calendar comes with a coupon to go into GFC and buy a 12-ounce bag of the customer’s favorite flavor of coffee.
“USU students should come to Grounds for Coffee not only just to grab a scrumptious drink, but also to study and hang out!” Potter wrote. “We have free wifi and a lot of seating, including a designated study hall. GFC is also just a great place to people-watch, if you’re into that. Especially with GFC being woman-owned and local, USU students should, whenever they can, choose the local option.”