Jared and Bridgette Smith officially reopened their coffee shop, Morning Grind, on Aug. 14 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“We opened our shop three years ago with the goal of creating a safe, gathering place for locals,” said Bridgette Smith. “College students were our main clientele at the beginning, but our business has expanded to having parents, kids, and other regulars.”
Before opening Morning Grind, Bridgette already had more than seven years of restaurant business experience in Baldwin County and other areas. She and her husband also shadowed a friend’s coffee shop in Alfreda to learn more about the coffee business before their first grand opening.
In 2022, the couple purchased the old gas station and former home to Olde Tyme Hot Dogs at the corner of West Montgomery and North Columbia streets. It was transformed into a small, naturally decorated coffee shop that the couple hoped would become a “comforting place” for locals, as the coffee shop in their former hometown was.
“Over the last three years, we thought we would find a routine, but our shop has been constantly changing and growing thanks to the community,” said Smith. “Our biggest feedback, however, has been about the small size of our shop. Many of our regulars wanted to be able to host events or bring groups and with our starting size, it was not possible because seating could not be guaranteed.”
To resolve the issue, the Smiths recently bought the entire building that houses Morning Grind, essentially doubling their space. With this expansion, they have added new items to the menu, expanded seating, and are now allowing vendors to partner with their shop to sell their wares.
“We already have vendors working with us like Little Birdie Bake that sells sourdough, Glazed Creations that sells cinnamon rolls, and Rocking a Farm, which sells fresh coffee soaps and gluten free options,” said Smith. “We are also in discussion with the Life Enrichment Center (a local nonprofit) to expand our partnership to allow their individuals to sell their artwork in the shop. Nothing is set in stone yet, though.”
Brigette is a Georgia Military College alumna and Jared is an alumnus of Georgia College & State University. Their long-term connections to Milledgeville inspired a love for community and partnerships in both.
“We cannot thank the community enough for their support,” said Smith. “Business has been booming and we are hoping to continue to grow and expand and connect with our community even more. We hope our customers enjoy the new, larger space and can make it something special for themselves.”
— Contributed