We were lucky to catch up with Lindsey Williams recently and have shared our conversation below.

Lindsey, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

I’ve thought about this question so many times since 2019. I can honestly say “yes” I am happy business owner. Have I had moments where I wondered why am I doing this, of course. Then I stop to think of all the accomplishments I’ve made since buying the coffee shop in 2017. The biggest time I’ve questioned myself was when Covid hit in 2019, I was also going through a divorce, trying to raise my son, trying to find myself again and learn to love what I do all over again with a new purpose. I love owning my own business because at the end of the day I truly love customer service but most of all coffee.

Lindsey, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

In 2017 I found out that Stomping Grounds may close if it didn’t find a new owner. At the time I thought I could really make a go of it and try something new, so I put in an offer and well the rest is history. In September 2017, I was starting this fun new adventure in which there has been several changes. Close to six years later here I am now jumping into it further. Now with the help of my amazing boyfriend Mike, I have decided to purchase the building that the coffee shop is in and truly make it my own. He has given me my spunk back to follow my dreams, to revamp the shop into what I imagine and to show our kids if you work hard it’ll all pay off in the end. I want to show our community, our kids and well ourselves that with a little hard work, dedication and team work life is truly a blessing. Yes, there has been bumps along the way Covid being one of them. Covid hit and it changed a lot of things in every town across the US. For me it meant prices going up, product delays, quality & quantity changes, reduced hours, laying off employees, home schooling my son while working at the coffee shop and hoping to survive it all. With lots of research over the years and great vendors to work with we’ve made some great coffee. In 2018 we brought in Folly Coffee out of Silver Lake MN. They have perfected some of the best Espresso I’ve ever had. Rob & Jeff are great to work with and are rock stars when it comes to roasting beans too.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Being to independent. Over my life being independent was something I had to do. It always meant that no matter what do it yourself or find away to do it! Now I’ve learned I can still be independent but asking for help is ok too. Asking for help doesn’t mean you’ve failed but it means you’ve learned that there are new ways to do things from projects to revamping a small business.

Can you talk to us about your experience with buying businesses?

I bought Stomping Grounds in September 2017. The community it’s in has a great customer base. Stomping Grounds has been around since early 2000. It has always been my favorite coffee shop. When I heard it may close, I decided that I needed to stop dreaming about owning a coffee shop someday and go for it. Over the years owning a business has its ups and downs but with the right people by my side I’m doing what I love every day.

Contact Info:

• Website: Stompinggrounds218.com
• Instagram: Stomping_grounds_218
• Facebook: Stomping Grounds

Image Credits
Kelly Pearson