Located at 109 Ballpark Dr., just off Manchester Road, The Ground STL has gained a loyal following by offering more than just coffee. Doubling as a plant shop, the locally owned café promotes a sense of community.
“The community that we have built here has grown a lot. We have so many regulars now, and we just keep bringing more and more people from Ballwin and the surrounding areas,” owner Shannon Moore said.
Moore has long been interested in entrepreneurship. Previously working in sales and networking, she knew she wanted to start her own business but wasn’t sure where to begin.
“I realized Ballwin had a spot open for a place for more community. I love coffee and plants, so I thought, ‘why not combine the two’ and created my business model,” she said.
The Ground STL occupies two floors, with its café on the top level and a plant shop below. The layout allows visitors to browse plants while sipping their coffee. Customers can even choose to sit among the greenery on the lower level to enjoy their drinks
Moore ensures products are high quality by sourcing both her coffee and plants from local sellers. She partners with Park Avenue Coffee, which brings in beans from small farms in Costa Rica and Africa; for plants, she handpicks them from local wholesalers.
“We try to keep everything small, local and high quality,” Moore said.
That commitment to quality is what attracted barista Ashley Fuller to join the staff.
“I had just been coming to The Ground for coffee and treats between work. I wasn’t enjoying the other barista jobs I had, so I casually asked if they were hiring, and I’ve been here ever since,” Fuller said.
Now, nearly a year into her job, Fuller said her favorite part is the freedom to experiment with drinks.
“I usually end up having two drinks a shift. The first one I make is an iced Cubano, then, I typically make a latte. I don’t like them overly sweet, but I like flavor, so right now I’ve been adding strawberry and coconut,” Fuller said.
Beyond the drinks, Fuller said she values the connection she gets to build with customers.
“People here see you as a person instead of a coffee-making machine. We get to know our regulars very well. We have the time to chat and connect,” she said.
In addition to a full coffee menu, The Ground offers teas, smoothies and lemonades. The café also rotates a seasonal menu with unique flavors and combinations. For November, The Ground STL introduced six new drinks, four of which I tried myself.
“Customers help keep us [creative]. They look forward to it every month now, so we know we have to be creative and come up with different ways to bring people in,” Moore said.
Moore spent over two years preparing to launch the shop in late June 2024.
“It takes a lot. A lot more than you probably could have imagined. There are so many details involved when opening a business,” Moore said. “I do have ideas to grow. I just have to get through the first two years.”
Moore’s mission is to expand her business while continuing to create a comfortable atmosphere for her community.
