Grounds For Thought

174 S Main St,

Bowling Green, OH 43402 

 www.groundsforthought.com

FEATURED STORY FROM THE Best of BG – 2014 ISSUE

Grounds For Thought:

Local Shop Celebrates 25th Anniversary

The family owned and operated business was opened in October 1989 by owner/manager Kelly Wicks with the goal of combining great coffee and great books. “They couldn’t exist without the other,” Wicks says, attributing the combination to the shop’s success.

The store, which  has grown from seating nine to a maximum occupancy of 100, now carries 250,000 used books for sale over a 7,000 square foot area.

And they’re free. Evening events are just one of the ways he gives back to the community that has supported Grounds For Thought over the years.

The café supports school activities throughout the year by donating gift cards and coffee as event prizes to various groups and causes or sometimes by keeping the midnight oil burning, fueling those students participating in BGSU’s annual Dance Marathon fundraiser.

The cozy atmosphere that is so characteristic of Grounds For Thought makes the shop a great place for just about anything. The café has been used for study sessions, group meetings, business meetings, and even first dates.

Serving a college town for so many years, Wicks is acutely aware of the student lifestyle. He tries his best to keep prices reasonable, without sacrificing quality. Grounds For Thought purchases its own wholesale selection of coffee beans from around the world.

The store also helps support other local business in purchasing various products from other stores. Their honey is provided by Schooner Farms. Call of the Canyon provides the sandwiches. The donuts are made by a husband and wife team out of Maumee and other baked goods are made, from scratch, by an individual baker right in town.

“The community is what allows Grounds For Thought to keep going,” Wicks says about the store’s 25 years. As with any 25^th anniversary, the marriage between café and bookstore will be celebrated with a weekend “party” sometime in November. Exact dates are yet to be announced, but special weekend sales, activities, and events are expected.

When asked about the future, Wicks will tell you Grounds For Thought “is not going anywhere.”

AN ADDITIONAL FEATURED STORY ABOUT GROUNDS FOR THOUGHT CAN BE FOUND IN THE Best of BG – 2012 ISSUE