"It Takes a Village": Building a Community-First Small Business | Village Grind Coffee & Tea Co.

Kandra Witkowski, Director of Business Development at Scoop Soldiers, visits her beloved hometown coffee shop, Village Grind Coffee & Tea Co. in Oswego, to interview owner Jodi Behrens.

With 30 years under its belt, Village Grind Coffee & Tea Co. is more than just a coffee house—it's the heart of the community. Jodi shares the evolution of the business, the challenges of competing with major chains, and the deep emotional rewards that come from a commitment to service over pure transaction.

In this inspiring episode, we discuss:
The Evolution of Coffee: From 30 years ago (when cold coffee was just dumped out) to today's modern concoctions, and why supporting a small, regional roaster matters.
Beating the Big Boxes: How customer loyalty and a welcoming atmosphere have allowed The Village Grind to survive an influx of Dunkin' and Starbucks locations.
Community First: Heart-touching stories, from running fundraisers (Trying for Kevin) to serving customers after chemotherapy, proving that making a difference in someone’s life is the ultimate reward.
The Reality of Ownership: The long hours ("Dark 30 to 8:00 PM"), the struggle to find good staff, and the essential need for consistency and a strong support system (a "good village").
Advice for Entrepreneurs: Jodi's top three pieces of advice for anyone dreaming of owning a coffee shop or starting any small business.

CHECK OUT VILLAGE GRIND COFFEE & TEA CO.:
  / thevillagegrindoswego  


CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro: Meet Jody, Owner of The Village Grind (30 Years)
01:54 Origin Story: Started by a Friend, Bought by Family
02:44 The Grind is the Hub: Becoming the Community Center by Accident
03:59 How Customers Changed: From Commuters to Work-From-Home Crowd
04:59 Product Evolution: Iced Coffee & Rejecting the K-Cup Concept
05:48 Supporting Small Business: Finding a Regional Roaster
06:43 The Starbucks Effect: Why Big Chains Drive the Trend Train
07:16 Local Competition: Why a New Shop Actually Helped The Grind
08:15 Why They Survived: "Because We're Home" (The Goosebumps Moment)
09:39 Family Business: Kids and Grandkids Working at The Grind
10:30 The Next Generation of Customers: From Car Seats to Teenagers
12:20 Service & Care: Learning Customers and Helping Those in Need
13:16 Heartfelt Community Action: The "Trying for Kevin" Fundraiser
14:26 The Value of Word of Mouth & a Great Village
15:07 Integrating with the Community (Chamber, Optimist, Donations)
16:03 The Partner Divide: Why a Working Husband Eased Stress
17:42 The Reality of Ownership: It's Not a Piece of Cake 🍰
18:35 Why Kids Didn't Take Over: They Saw It Was Hard Work
19:35 The Grind: Long Hours (Dark 30 to 8 PM) and Dedication
20:20 Staffing Challenges: Running a Short Crew of Six
20:53 Employee Change: Lack of Basics (Counting Money, Dishes) in Young People
22:25 Getting Back to Basics: Be a Good Human, Make Good Choices
23:36 Finding Employees: Word of Mouth, Prayer, Not Indeed
24:34 Staff Training: Learning by Watching (No SOPs) & The Golden Rule
25:34 Customer Philosophy: People Choose to Be Here, Make Them Happy
26:12 Shuck and Shack's 3 Rules (Enjoy, Return, Tell Others)
26:43 Marketing: Mostly Donations, Good Product, & Word of Mouth
27:10 Worst Part of Being a Barista: The Misconception that It's Easy
28:02 Networking: The Downtown Business Association & Bright Box Collaboration
29:16 Community Events: Organizing Foxfest, Car Shows, & Farmers Markets
30:23 Capitalizing on Events: Gaining Two Loyal Customers is a Blessing
31:27 Top 3 Advice for Aspiring Coffee Shop Owners
32:00 Consistency, Love What You Do, and a Good Village
33:02 Personal Life: Dogs (Harley, Winston) & Hank the Bernie Doodle
34:25 Favorite Drink: The Americano (Matured from a Coconut Mocha)
35:05 Favorite Food: Strawberry Rhubarb Pie & Carrot Cake
36:38 Final Call to Action: Visit The Village Grind & Follow Your Dreams

Do you have a small business dream? Let this conversation inspire you to follow your dreams, build your village, and remember the Golden Rule in everything you do!
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