Community Grounds: Coffee & Meeting House

This is going to be a long review, but it’s worth it, just bear with me!

I grew up in Columbus but spent most of my young adulthood in Cincinnati before moving back here 3 years ago. Columbus didn’t feel like home for most of those 3 years until we started coming to Community Grounds. The owners are incredibly welcoming, the baristas all feel like friends, and with all of their inclusivity, we’ve finally felt like we’re putting down roots after three years back in my own hometown. Columbus doesn’t always have the most welcoming face, but if you’re looking for one, it’s on Parsons!

The importance of a Good Coffee Shop can’t be overstated. It needs to be a place that’s welcoming for hours of work or socialization or those days when you need to ignore your gluten intolerance to order 4 calzones and cry in the corner for an hour. It needs to have good food and good drinks and options for people with dietary preferences. It needs to have baristas who were not once part of my college’s Socialist Alternative who then became weird bullies. Community Grounds checks all of those boxes and more!

As an immunocompromised person, Community Grounds is also the only place I feel safe going over two years into the pandemic. The baristas are always wearing masks and there are multiple areas to sit so I can keep my distance from any plague-spreaders in the area.

Thank you, Community Grounds!

Came for the cinnamon vegan soft serve, and stayed for the vegan pepperoni + mushroom pizza calzone!

So many awesome options at really good prices too.

I like this shop more every time I visit. They have delicious, from-scratch specialty drinks, and they have vegan drink options! I had the tastiest vegan pumpkin spice latte on my last visit. I hope in the future they will add vegan food options, too.

It is a place I am confident I can meet up with a friend, and there will be a place for us to sit together. They sell products from local businesses, like soap and lip balm, and they display art from local artists. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable, and every employee I have interacted with has been a delightful personality.

What I love most though, is their suspended coffee program, which allows you to purchase coffee or food for a stranger. A ticket is added to a box, and someone who is down on their luck can come claim it. I wish every coffee shop did this.

They have lots of community events here as well. I have not been able to attend one yet, but I definitely plan to!

Next level customer service. I've stopped reading signs on doors under the assumption that masks are optional for vaxxed customers, but they were super nice about telling me that they've reinstated their mask policy. They didn't make me feel guilty at all, which is an accomplishment, since guilt is my default emotion. Also, I was presenting pretty femme today, but they defaulted to they/them pronouns when addressing me! I love that!

The drinks are super good, and not all of their flavors are sweet. When I got the cardamom/clove drink, I remember thinking, "ah, this sure is... exactly what I asked for..." Don't be afraid to mix syrups if you have a sweet tooth. I got lavender/vanilla today and it was amazing.

I spent a very pleasant half hour or so last week [6-23-2022] visiting Community Grounds during the middle afternoon.

I have been familiar with Community Grounds for the past 1½ years or so -- without ever having been there -- because I edit the calendar in the Columbus Free Press and because BQIC [Black Queer and Intersectional Collective] holds a monthly "Free Resource Friday" at Community Grounds, 4:00-6:00 p.m., on the last Friday of each month.

The Open Shelter [that had previously been located on the second floor of a church building in downtown Columbus] moved recently to a large one-floor building at 1037 Parsons Ave. [about five blocks north of Community Grounds].

Last Thursday [6-23-2022], I had been planning to attend an open house at the new location of The Open Shelter so I decided that I would visit Community Grounds immediately before arriving at the open house.

Since I completely avoid caffeine [for medical reasons] and I attempt to limit my eating of sweets, my "food options" at Community Grounds had been quite limited.

I had carefully studied the menu -- "on line" -- in advance of my visit -- and had decided that I would order and eat a "Chickpea 'toona' Salad With Pita [Okolona's Chickpea 'Toona' Salad served in a pita]." That food item had unfortunately been "out of stock" when I had been there; my one remaining backup choice that had been of interest had been a calzone.

I ate my calzone, drank a glass of water, walked around Community Grounds and took several pictures, and had a wonderful conversation with my server [who had been the only other person there at that time].

If you are looking for a pleasant and relaxed location at which to drink some coffee and/or to eat some snacks, I strongly recommend Community Grounds.

Welcoming neighborhood staple on the South Side— for community, art, delicious vegan soft serve and other treats, a fancy latte or just a cup of coffee. A safe space to just be. 💜

Came here for CPR training and afterwards I got a cinnamon raisin bagel with cream cheese. Oh my goodness, so yummy 😋 I highly recommend coming here to get a bagel and some coffee. Such a cute spot! If I'm ever in the neighborhood again I will definitely be stopping by. Thank you again. Merry Christmas to all!

This is a really great little coffee shop. The Family that own it are the nicest people ever. Its actually larger that I thought when driving by. The inside is bright and cozy. They have all kinds of fun random events to attend. They also agreed to host our Women Business Owners group. This place is a must visit especially if you love to support local businesses!

Love the overall look of this place. Very clean, spacious and not overly crowded like some of the more popular places around town. I loved being able to enjoy drinks that are carefully made (and made the way you ordered it) and enjoy the chill atmosphere. This might just be my new favorite coffee shop. The owner (and family) are super nice and pleasant people.

I always pass this coffee shop since it is so close to my house. Today I finally stopped in to check it out and of course grab a coffee. It is spacious and very welcoming inside. A great place for meetings or just a coffee date. Also : They still have their pumpkin spice latte on the menu which absolutely made my day as it is probably the last place in town where you can find it! Go get one while they still have it!