Kaleigh Zierk | Echo
What do classic coke bottles, a typewriter, antique center pieces and espresso all have in common?
The answer: Common Grounds.Vintage decor lines the colorful walls in this unique coffee shop in Hartford City. Cloths of various shape, pattern and color cover the tables which are surrounded by antique couches and chairs. A TV mounted on the wall is always showing old movies while jazz, classic rock, and indie music plays through the speakers.
The menu hangs on the wall behind the register, lined with colorful lights. The espresso machine cries as customers wait patiently on one of the metal stools in front of the counter.
Marylou Habecker, first lady of Taylor, and LaRea Slater, president of the Matthews Area Chamber and member of Our Town Upland, Inc., enjoy lunch and coffee next to the large window in the front of the store. On the outside of the window are the words, "Common Grounds," identifying this unique coffee shop.
Common Grounds was brought to life by Katie Rich two and a half years ago. She planted the shop in Hartford City, Ind., the town where she grew up and is now raising her three children.
After moving away from Hartford City for a period of time, Rich decided to return to her hometown to be around friends and family, but job opportunities were scarce in such a small community.
"I decided I needed to create my own job, and I've always loved coffee, I've always loved cooking and I love antiques. . . I wanted to spend more time with my kids, and I felt it was important to have a job where I was able to incorporate spending more time with my family."
People were constantly saying that there was nothing left in Hartford City, there was nothing to do, which was a driving reason behind her desire to plant Common Grounds in Hartford City, according to Rich.
Dan Bowman, Taylor literature professor, moved to Hartford City around the same time Rich opened Common Grounds. He expressed his feelings and experiences about the shop.
"She had pretty much just opened it [Common Grounds]," Bowman said. "That was just a really serendipitous kind of moment, because we were just walking around this new town we had just moved to…and there's this great, funky little coffee shop right on the main street, and I thought, 'Oh, yes!'... I've been going there ever since."Rich spent a couple years planning and renovating the building where she would establish her business.
"I've always kind of had a flare for interior design, I guess. It's kind of an eclectic collection," Rich said. "I knew I needed colors that would pop with all the antiques and furniture...I would say about 50 percent of the antiques I'd already collected and the rest would be friends and family giving them to me. A lot of the people in the community, you'd be surprised how many antiques they would donate or bring to me."
When developing a vision for Common Grounds, a quick stop, "on-the-go," for customers was not what Rich had in mind.
"I want it to be cozy. I wanted people to feel comfortable when they come in. . . relaxing, getting to know your neighbors a bit, having a cup of coffee, getting into conversation, because people are in such a hurry now-a-days," Rich said.
Slater, a frequent visitor of Common Grounds, talks of her experiences in the shop and the value it adds to the community:
"I love Common Grounds because the design is eclectic and I've always loved Victorian stuff. . . It's warm and welcoming. . . You see little kids come in, you see senior citizens, you see students from Taylor University and it's just a beautiful place to meet. . . It's what every town needs-a gathering place-and Katie Rich welcomes you with open arms."
Since Common Grounds is located in a community that is near and dear to Rich's heart, she is always looking for ways to give back."Usually when there are events in the community. . . I usually try to find some way of providing coffee for that. I do music up here, we have a lot of different artists come through acoustically. . . which gives people something to do in the community, especially students at the university."
As she finished lunch and sipped coffee with Slater, Habecker shared her thoughts on the eccentric coffee shop:
"I love coming because I always have a special friend with me, sometimes it's a professor, sometimes one of the ladies in the community, like LaRea. Sometimes you just need time and you need a place that you can relax, and you need great food to stimulate conversation. This place offers that. It's a very sweet spot away from campus."
