Valley Junction's Green Grounds Cafe Simmers, Celebrates

Grabbing breakfast and coffee just got a little easier at .

The Green Grounds Café is featuring a new breakfast menu and drive up service to commemorate its first anniversary.

“The Junction people love our coffee,” said Isa O’Hara, the café’s owner. ”Everybody loves our coffee.” 

O’Hara buys the coffee, which she brews with filtered water, from Des Moines’ Java Joe’s. Some of O’Hara’s customers are neighboring merchants who flock there because of the café’s emphasis on “green living,” she said.

The café serves up locally grown organic food and drinks, provides a venue for local artists, and features karaoke for children and adults. Menu items include panini sandwiches, wraps, salads and new fall soups. Drinks include organic coffee and tea and espresso.

O’Hara, who spent 20 years working in the computer field, opened the shop on July 31, 2010. She employs six people.

“I knew this would be hard, and it’s hard,” she said, of becoming a small business owner. “But it’s really fun though.”

Breakfast is Served

The smell of banana and strawberry muffins – fresh out of the oven – wafts about the 3,000-square-foot café. Breakfast items include free-range eggs, wraps, quiche and organic fruit cups.

Traffic along Fifth Street is very light in the early morning, O’Hara said. Patrons can call ahead, pull up out front and employees will deliver the goods to their vehicles.

Why Organic?

O’Hara didn’t mean set out to “go green.” She fell into it. “I was the most anti-green person I know,” she said.

A raw food event at a neighbor’s house increased her awareness, and she began researching organic foods.

“My passion is to teach people and have a place they could go to get a better meal with organic ingredients,” O’Hara said.

Organic is a way to counter foods laden with pesticides, hormones and other additives, she said.

“I wanted to use the coffee shop as a venue to promote organic, green living,” she said.

Inside, chaise lounges and comfy sofas dot the space. Several large dining areas, a stage, children’s play area and artists’ displays fill the rest of the building. Free Wi-Fi is available.

Patrons also can peruse handbags, jewelry, artwork, cards and a hodgepodge of other items from 30 local artists.  

The café is perfect for play dates, intimate chit-chats and large gatherings. “We’re very family-friendly,” said O’Hara. “We love kids.”

Details

Address: 117 Fifth St. in West Des Moines

Phone: (515) 633-2326

Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday; 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Breakfast Car Hop: 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Call (515) 633-2326. Order from breakfast menu. Drive up and the items will be delivered to you inside your vehicle.

Kideoke: 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays. $25 per child includes a $10 gift certificate for snacks and drinks. Ages 9-15. Children can be dropped off. Supervision provided. Must pre-register. Showtime Karaoke Entertainment. Thousands of songs.

Bands: 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays. O’Hara is looking for high school bands that want a place to perform.