“ Take off your sandals because this place where you are standing is hallowed ground.” Book of Exodus Chapter 3 Verse 5. Powerful excerpt from the bible, or a sweet name for a coffee shop? Well to David and Kathy Chabala, this is their home and life. The friendly couple owns, operates and lives above Hallowed Grounds. We all need that little “pick me up” in the morning; some of us can’t live without it. Others, like the Chabalas, live for it. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur, or just looking to get your caffeine fix, this little shop has something to please everyone. My family taught me from a young age that it is always better to support local businesses, go out of your way to help your neighbor, and buy products made in the USA if at all possible. I try to live by that. Every time I drive through New Brighton, I visit a small coffee shop on the main street named Hallowed Grounds. I go there because they are passionate about what they do, and they can brew a mean cup of coffee. I also love the local "service with a smile" attitude. “We roast our coffee fresh because it gives it a better taste. You can’t get a cup of coffee like this from Starbucks,” said Kathy. Since opening their doors in 2007, they have been serving the valley, and have recently gained national attention in Specialty Coffee Retailer Magazine. Hallowed Grounds flavors some of their own coffee, and they have 25 original flavors. They also have over 40 different coffee blends from all over the world. Whether you want regular coffee or the $40-a-pound Haiwain Kona, they have every kind of coffee imaginable. Did I mention they also carry over 40 kinds of lose teas? The story behind their new business is interesting to say the least. The couple would travel to Pittsburgh to buy coffee and talk to fellow enthusiasts. “We are inspired by the big coffee roasters in Pittsburgh,” David said. There David planned to buy a $500 stove top coffee roaster, but instead he made the decision to go big or go home. He bought a huge coffee roaster and had it installed on his porch. The couple began selling coffee out of their home, but soon that wasn’t enough. “We had a $10,000 coffee roaster on our porch and almost 1,000 pounds of coffee in our pantry,” Kathy joked. Opening a business during the crash of the stock market is a daring move to say the least, but the Chabalas were surprised to see the support of the community. “The store was self-supporting after our first month,” said David. When the market crashed in October, they had their “best month ever”. They have seen nothing but success since. They seem to sell more bags of beans than liquid coffee. Their busiest time of year is right before Christmas. “Our busiest season of the year is December. We sell more bags of coffee and gift baskets than any other time of the year for the holiday season,” Kathy said. Hallowed Grounds almost “triples” their regular monthly sales. With their convenient location, they see a lot of business with events in New Brighton, like the car cruise and parades throughout the year. They also sell frozen coffees, which are a big hit in the summertime heat. With the addition of another roaster, the business is expanding, and now makes their own homemade peanut butter. I’ve seen it being made, and it both smells and tastes phenomenal. This shop has a unique blend of products, especially for a local business. As a family owned and run business, they try to support their fellow entrepreneurs by working with local businesses and selling their goods in the coffee shop. They work with Rosalyn’s Candy to make chocolate-covered coffee beans. A local pottery business custom makes Hallowed Grounds mugs. Do yourself a favor: next time you’re out and about in New Brighton, stop in and get a cup of coffee. I can guarantee you will be going back. With corporate companies taking over the landscape, it’s refreshing to see a local business thrive. Support your neighbors, and at the same time, get one of the best cups of coffe you’ll ever taste.