Exploring Life & Business with Lea Wechter of Gathering Grounds Coffee House

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lea Wechter.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
As a child in the 90’s the sitcom Friends was a huge hit. I always dreamed of owning my own business one day. I went to BGSU and finished my undergrad with a Bachelors in Business Administration. I worked in retail right after college and quickly realized I needed to work for myself. Previous to GG I owned and operated tanning salons in the area, when we wanted to diversify we wanted to choose something that was fun and had a better foundation for success. It took us 5 years to secure a location and do the build out.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road is never smooth in business. It’s how we learn to adapt and pivot that matters. Initially we had some miscommunication with the City of Huron zoning and took us almost a year before we were able to operate the drive thru. The pandemic was the most challenging, due to the fact that we were always adapting to new guidelines.

We’ve been impressed with Gathering Grounds Coffee House, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Gathering Grounds (aka GG) has initiative to be more ecofriendly. We recycle everything from cardboard, lids, disposable gloves, plastic bags and more. We offer glasses and mugs for patrons to use to cut down on waste, and provide a discount if you use those or your own. We compost most of our kitchen scraps.

We put a kitchen addition on a couple years ago, and now we are able to offer better food option including a artisan toast, bagel sandwiches, parfaits, salads, and more.

We are a queer woman owned business.

I’m most proud of our customer base. They have supported and rallied behind me for the past 10 years. They are as loyal as they come. We hope to provide an environment where everyone feels safe and welcome.

We now offer a quiet zone for those who are working or studying. It’s called The Study. You can also rent out The Study for small gatherings and private events.

We pride ourselves with constantly working with other small businesses in the area.

What was your favorite childhood memory?
Making coffee for my mom before she would drive me to school.

Pricing:

• $5-$10

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.gatheringgroundscoffeehouse.com
• Instagram: @gatheringgroundscoffeehouse
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggcoffeehousehuronohio/