Our Origin Story

Before December 2016, Jackson was a sleepy Missouri town—emphasis on the sleepy—as in severely, almost criminally, under caffeinated. 

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Enter Bob Schooley. After renovating two buildings on East Adams, he noticed the need for a coffee shop and decided to take the leap himself. With determination, a crash course in all things coffee, and plenty of hard work, he opened the very first coffee shop in Jackson: The Ground-A-Bout.

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When the doors opened on December 9, 2016, the town showed up in droves, with lines stretching out the door. Jackson was finally caffeinated, and Ground-A-Bout quickly became a community staple.

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But Bob wasn’t done. In 2018, he expanded by starting an in-house roastery, roasting beans fresh so that customers could literally smell the coffee before walking through the door. From there, the momentum only grew.

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What started as one small shop has now become four thriving locations across Southeast Missouri, plus a full-scale roastery. Thanks to Bob’s vision and dedication, Ground-A-Bout has gone from the first coffee shop in Jackson to one of the region’s favorite spots for breakfast, community, connection, and most importantly a great cup of coffee.