Who doesn’t love coffee wine and great food? Well that’s just what this weeks local business spotlight offers. The Grind and vine, located in Trenton, Ontario has been a local fan favorite for over a decade. Formally known as The Grind, was set to close its doors when young entrepreneur Taylor Russett saw a vision of bright future for the local café. Priding themselves on accessibility and inclusion, The Grind and Vine offers an atmosphere that is undeniably perfect. Whether you’re looking for a place to grab a coffee on the go or mingle with friends over a glass of wine, The Grind and Vine is a must visit. We got to talking with owner Taylor for some inside scoop on The Grind and Vine behind the scenes and what it takes to run a successful business in the Quinte area.
How long have you been in this business?
2 incredible years so far.
How many people do you have working on your team at The Grind and Vine?
Currently we have 6 amazing people on our team.
What inspired you to start your business in the Quinte area?
The Community! I had bought the The Grind while it was going out of business after the Covid-19 pandemic hit and I couldn’t see the community space that was here die. So, I thought I would invest in the community and create a space that was near and dear to a lot of people’s hearts and turn it back into a prosperous business.
What is your favorite thing about the Quinte area?
My favorite thing about the Quinte area would probably have to be the growth potential that the Quinte area has. The untapped water frontage of the beautiful Bay of Quinte and atmosphere that we have here is like no other.
What do you require to succeed in this business?
I require passionate people! I think that is the biggest one for me. I need staff that can not only serve quality drinks and coffee but also value the community and the people that they’re serving. We also need customers that also have the same feel and want to support a small business rather than going to large chain restaurants. A café is known for being a social environment and I think that’s why both coffee and wine are both social atmosphere drinks and what make our business successful. Whether you’re meeting up for a coffee with a friend or having a glass of wine with your girls, that’s kind of what we need to succeed.
How would you describe your business’s success so far?
Very successful, and very community driven. If it weren’t for the communities support we wouldn’t be where we are today.
After opening your business to the public, businesses experienced difficulties with the pandemic, how did support from the community help you thrive?
So I have a little bit of a different experience than most other businesses during the pandemic. I wasn’t operating before the pandemic and I started during the thick of it. When we first opened I had a few really horrible instances of hate crime and during that time I felt like I really had the community holster behind me. I kind of saw Covid differently from most small businesses, we had people come in that just wanted to support us.
What do you think the secret to excellent service is?
I think the most important element to excellent service is understanding who your customers are because each and everyone has different needs.
Do you have any exciting things planned for the future of the grind and Vine?
I have always been toying with the idea of opening more locations and servicing a larger area. Right now we are working on a mobile coffee trailer for Prince Edward County and events throughout the Bay of Quinte area. We want to get our coffee and other products in the hands of people that don’t get to come to our bricks and mortar location and hopefully further expansion to have other locations.
If you could tell people one thing about your business, what is the secret to making a great coffee, what would that be?
It’s them! It’s the customers that make it all happen and we wouldn’t be where we are without them.
The Grind and Vine |45 Front Street, Trenton, ON | (887)-360-0704