510 S. Tibbs Road, Dalton. This is one address that you will want to save in your phone and your mind.
Yes, it’s the location of ChristChurch Presbyterian. And, yes, it’s the location for the most perfect coffee shop where you will find great food and drinks and a quiet place away from the hustle and bustle — the Common Ground Coffee Shop. The shop has a separate entrance from the church and is open to the public. Look for the signs at the south entrance of the building, and it’s inside the Recreation Place at the church. There’s plenty of parking, and they even have spots set aside for seniors like me right in front. How nice!
They are open Monday-Thursday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m, Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. They offer a large yet cozy seating area, seating for a group, or small areas for just one or two. You may enjoy the sofa, a comfy single chair or a table and chair for seating. You may do some work on your computer, read, watch TV or mingle with friends.
When I visited, a group of men were having a great time eating and enjoying fellowship. (This is something our society needs more of. Being with people, laughing and having a great time is greatly underappreciated.) You can come in and place an order and eat inside or on the beautiful patio with a fire pit or get your food to go. Customers may call ahead, pull up, and their awesome staff will bring your order to your vehicle. Curbside pickup. How special is that!
The community may also rent the space for business meetings, parties or family events. Local Bible study groups use the facility, too, and various running groups meet at the location often. The groups enjoy coffee during or after their events. How perfect!
The shop opened in 2014 as an outreach for fellowship. The pastor at the church at the time knew someone who was closing a location out of town and they came to Dalton to open the shop. Volunteers run and operate the shop, as it’s separate from the church.
I enjoyed the most delicious caramel frappe because, you know, it’s just always my go-to drink. I can’t live without it. Some people visit major league baseball parks, I visit coffee shops to savor the frappes.
This frappe exceptionally met each of my wants for a good beverage. It was iced cold, smooth and rich, and I enjoyed each sip. I started to get a second one, but I wanted to enjoy some of the other treats featured.
I also delightfully enjoyed a log cabin latte. I’d just like to say that it was one delicious drink. It’s a white chocolate honey cinnamon iced heavenly beverage. They even prepared it decaf for me. I decided to try one of their bagels, and I selected the cinnamon variety. They also offer blueberry, plain or the everything bagel. The bagel was sliced, toasted and topped with the perfect amount of cream cheese. The drinks paired so well with the warm and delicious treat.
Their menu is large, and you will find so many things you want to enjoy. Besides bagels, they offer various fresh pastries. You can’t go wrong with any selection. Each will accompany any beverage.
They offer teas, smoothies, lemonade, lattes, frappes, coffees and more. Their seasonal specials are something I can’t wait to try. Some of the tempting drinks featured are chai cider (a blend of spiced chai and apple cider, hot or iced), a pumpkin spice latte, a maple vanilla chai cold brew, a baked cinnamon apple drink (hot or cold), a peach perfect latte, strawberry lemonade and much more.
The Christmas holidays in the past featured a white chocolate gingerbread latte, toasted marshmallow hot chocolate, a peppermint mocha and a maple spice latte. Well, I can’t wait until December to try all these flavors. They even bring out special flavors for Valentine’s Day.
You can also select from whole milk, skim milk or almond milk. Several flavors are available for customers to pick the perfect taste for them. Some available are caramel, cane sugar, hazelnut, lavender, peppermint and macadamia nut. Sugar-free choices are vanilla and caramel. Choices are always a great thing for customers.
They also sell mugs, gift cards and retail coffee bags. They sell chocolate milk and apple juice. A loyalty card is offered, too.
Their best-sellers are the log cabin latte, drip coffee (featured for $1), sugar-free beverages and hot or iced lattes.
Dalton State College students can present their valid ID and get a discount on their orders. Since it’s a short drive from the college, students should take advantage of this gem of a location to study, meet with friends or just unwind between classes. It’s a perfect place with free Wi-Fi and fantastic seating areas.
They have also featured musical groups where customers can drop by and enjoy great food and great music. They often feature specials, too. Be sure to check out their social media pages to see the latest events happening at the Common Ground Coffee Shop. They always have something amazing going on.
Coffee shop staff want members of the community to know that the shop is conveniently located off Walnut Avenue. Many travelers on I-75 are looking for a great local place for coffee, so the shop is a perfect location. Staff also want to make everyone feel welcome and enjoy the great fellowship. They invite people to connect to a church body with small groups or a Bible study. Many customers come to use the gym and/or walking recreation facility and then enjoy a great coffee afterward. A church service is in the shop each Thursday night at 6:30 and features worship, music and a message.
Our community is so lucky to have such great locations in the area to visit and enjoy food and fellowship. Getting to meet new people is one of my favorite things to do. The Common Ground Coffee Shop is the perfect place for what we all need — each other, rest, food, reflection and fun. This shop provides all of it for us. Take advantage of this wonderful location.
Sandra Derrick, a lifelong Daltonian, is a retired educator who taught home economics for 30 years in Whitfield County Schools.