I am happy to present to you our 51st local business spotlighted in the Pay it Forward feature – Grinders Steep.
Our recent Lake County business featured was Stonehouse Restaurant, and owners, Jana & Davis Campbell, chose to Pay it Forward to Grinders Steep.
The catch is that I will not choose the next business to interview, but the current spotlighted business will choose who I will interview next. Local businesses will Pay it Forward.
Grinders Steep is a five-star coffee and tea shop located in the heart of Middletown, California, offering a wide variety of iced to hot beverages and much more.
Grinders Steep provides organic roasted coffee, 25 + tea options (ranging from Stash bags to organic loose leaf teas) and a wide selection of smoothies, frappes milkshakes and more.
You can call your order in or stop by and select a hand-crafted drink specialized for a more personalized taste.
Their mission is that when you walk through their doors, the rest of your day will be awesome!
Here are some questions I asked the owner, Brea Rainey…
1. Why did you decide to start your own business?
I am actually the second owner of Grinders Steep. Our shop was established in 2010 and I started out as an employee for the old owners in 2014.
I still remember one afternoon in 2016 when the owner had asked me if I would ever be interested in owning a coffee shop and I said, “That would be a dream!” and he responded, “What about owning THIS coffee shop?” I responded, “I would love that, one day!” He asked, “What about now?” as he explained that they were going to be selling the shop and wanted me to buy it, if possible. I remember thinking can I actually do that? I was only 20 years old at the time. I lived very frugally, but I didn’t know if I had enough to BUY a business, let alone run one.
I called my parents and asked for advice. They had told me that they always said they would help with either college or entrepreneurship, so if I really felt I could do this, they would loan me the money I needed. I’m thankful to have had parents that believed in me even when I was unsure of myself. We immediately dove into figuring out how to make this happen and within two months of the first mention, I was the proud new owner of Grinders Steep.
2. How do you deal with fear and doubt?
I had lots of days when I doubted whether or not I could actually do this, especially in the beginning. I had gone from employee, not even a manager, to an owner in the blink of an eye and I had NO IDEA what I was doing in the beginning. My boyfriend at the time (now husband), family and friends were crucial to me finding my footing as a business owner and figuring out how to overcome the fear and doubt that came with learning the ropes. Having people who lend a listening ear while I bounced my thoughts, concerns and strategies is so crucial in overcoming the hard parts of business ownership.
3. How does your business look different now vs. when you first started?
When I first took over it felt like I was running someone else’s business. I appreciated the work that was put in by the owner before me, but it was important that I could make it my own. We rebranded and remodeled in 2018, the same week that I paid the loan off. It finally felt like it was my own. In the years since, I’ve really prioritized creating a community with my customers and employees and I think that shows when you step through the doors.
4. How do you set your business apart from others in your industry?
I think in terms of setting apart from other similar businesses is our business model. I never do anything with profits in mind. Some would maybe think this is not a reliable business model, but my priorities are to make people’s day a little brighter.
The service industry is for getting to know the people in your community and creating a space for connection, rather than getting as much profit as possible. If I can pay my bills, pay my employees, and keep the doors open, that is the only thing that matters to me. I’ve had people tell me that I could be charging more and I certainly could, but just because I can doesn’t mean I should. I contribute this kind of thinking to our success, I think if you prioritize your community over everything else it will pay off.
5. What is the hardest part of being an entrepreneur?
I think finding a balance of work and life. I’ve had lots of ups and downs of how much of my physical time and mental energy is consumed by the business. On top of being a business owner, I’m a full-time caregiver for my disabled daughter, and that has forced me to put the shop as a secondary priority after so many years of it taking the first priority in my life. I think it’s hard as a business owner to, sometimes, let your customers down. At the same time, it’s equally important to realize that small businesses are run by real people, with lives and struggles of their own and we can’t always do a perfect job of balancing both all the time.
6. What is your favorite part of being an entrepreneur?
The connection is by far the best part. The fun of being in the coffee business is getting to know the people that come through our doors. It’s not just about making their coffee and sending them on their way. We get this really special opportunity to start their day off on a good note. It may seem simple or mundane to some but you’d be amazed how a simple connection with someone can really turn their day around. I get to make people’s day brighter, for a living. There’s really nothing better than that.
7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
I would go to Salzburg, Austria. Specifically Neukirchen am Großvenediger in the winter, to sled on the longest toboggan run in Europe. I’ve been once before and dream of the day I can go again.
Brea Rainey
Owner
Grinders Steep
21187 Calistoga Rd.
Middletown, CA 95461
707-987-8810
Instagram: Grinderssteep
Facebook: Grinders Steep
Business Hours:
Monday-Friday 5 am-4 pm
Saturday & Sunday 7 am-4 pm
Grinders Steep would like to Pay it Forward to Little Red’s Caramel Apples.
Stay tuned for Little Red’s Caramel Apples!
