Meet Sarah Chinn Jones of Canal Winchester

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Chinn Jones.

Hi Sarah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey to opening a café didn’t happen overnight—it was built one apron, one shift, and one prayer at a time.

I started at Columbus Corporate Caterers, where I first fell in love with the fast-paced world of hospitality and the quiet power of food to bring people together. From there, I spent three years working in a kitchen at a ministry, where meals weren’t just about nourishment—they were an act of service.

Then came 18 years at Starbucks, where I honed my coffee skills, learned the rhythm of café life, and discovered how coffee could create connection. I also spent five years working with Fantasy Cupcake with my sister, where creativity and community went hand in hand. I got to see firsthand what it was like to be an entrepreneur.

When the opportunity came to open Coffee On High, it felt like the next natural step—but also a leap of faith. Looking back, it’s been incredible to see how God has used each experience to prepare me. From catering trays to cupcakes, ministry kitchens to mocha lattes—every role helped shape the heart behind this place.

Coffee On High isn’t just about great drinks and good food. It’s about creating a space where people feel seen, encouraged, and a little better than when they walked in. It’s the sum of every lesson, every step, and every bit of grace along the way.

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I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Absolutely!

I’ve always felt confident working with people—creating connection, building community, and making customers feel welcome comes naturally. But the business side of running a café has been a steep learning curve.

Things like inventory management, pricing, budgets, scheduling, forecasting, and navigating licenses and regulations were all new to me. There were moments early on when I felt overwhelmed and unsure if we would make it another month. I’ve had to find other avenues for income like Uber and DoorDash, think outside the box. I’ve learned to lean on others, ask for help, and grow through every challenge. Each struggle has made me a better owner—and a more determined one.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Coffee On High, we do more than serve coffee—we create connection.

We’re a café in Canal Winchester offering house-baked pastries, fresh salads and sandwiches, and, of course, great coffee. But what we really specialize in is making people feel seen, welcomed, and uplifted. Our goal is for every customer to leave feeling a little better than when they walked in.

What truly sets us apart is the atmosphere—and a huge part of that comes from our team. We have an incredibly close, encouraging staff that genuinely enjoys working together. That positive energy carries over to our customers. You can feel it when you walk through the door. We laugh together, support each other, and create a space where everyone feels like they belong.

I’m most proud of the community we’ve built—both behind the counter and on the other side of it. We know our customers by name. We celebrate their milestones, pray for them when they’re struggling, and do our best to be a bright spot in their day. That’s the heart of Coffee On High, and it’s why we do what we do.

What does success mean to you?
For me, success isn’t just measured in sales or foot traffic—it’s in the stories, the connections, and the little moments.

It’s when a customer tells us this is their favorite place to reset during a hard week. When someone brings a friend because they “had to experience it too.” When a team member says they love coming to work because it feels like family.

Success is creating a space that makes people feel better, lighter, and more encouraged than when they walked in. It’s seeing our team thrive, our community connect, and knowing we’re making a difference beyond the cup.

If we can keep doing that, I’ll consider us wildly successful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: cw_coffeeonhigh
• Facebook: Coffee on High