Local Brew Spotlight: Female-Owned Karmic Grind Is A Place To Sip, Sit And Stay Awhile

OYSTER BAY, NY — For anyone craving a cozy coffee spot to linger with a good book, sip on Devoción coffee, and actually find stress-free parking, there’s a new go-to in Oyster Bay. Karmic Grind is bringing its inviting atmosphere to town as its second Long Island location, seven years after first opening in Locust Valley.

Co-owners Regina Smith and Alicia Zarou Scanlon said they want their coffee shop to have a laid-back feel, inviting customers to feel comfortable with spending time honing their craft of writing, reading, or just relaxing.

"I have empathy for the motivation of businesses to keep people moving in and out," Smith said. "I get it, but I am also the person seeking a spot to be inspired to write my thoughts, plan ahead, people watch, and zone out. It's unbelievable what can hit you with that freedom. That's why we're here."

She continued, sharing how she has already seen people flourish over the years.

"One could argue in a coffee shop, you don't want people taking up a seat all day over one cup of coffee, but if I'm putting myself in the shoes of someone who needs coffee and a change of environment for inspiration, which I do, I want a spot where I can plug in," she said. "I want to see their life unfold in these walls. We have med school students in Locust Valley who we watch study during the semester. We now have doctors who started studying seven years ago. It's amazing to see that progression. If you don't let people take a seat, you actually never get to see that."

The co-owners both grew up on Long Island and have been in business together for eight years. Smith has since moved from Glen Cove to Florida. Smith and Scanlon met in Smith's yoga studio and bonded over their sixth-grade daughters, who are both named Aalia and Alia, respectively.

"P.s., they are best friends," Smith said. "They fell off the same star and just ended up on this earth in the same neighborhood together. We want to set an example for our children that this is a place of gathering for all, and a place for people to create. We want this to be a nourishing spot where people feel well-fed in their bellies and their souls within our walls. Everything happens over a cup of coffee."

The idea for Karmic Grind came about years ago when the duo couldn't find a spot to get great coffee and sit down for quality interaction, without it being a long lunch. They immediately became friends, sharing their life histories and goals. While on a walk, the idea for Karmic Grind was brewed.

"We just nodded at each other and said, 'let's do this,'" Smith said. "We meant it. We wanted to do it together, and now, I couldn't live without her. For all these years, it's been an incredibly fulfilling pursuit."

Smith said she wants to know what her team members are up to in life– what they're learning, what their side projects are, what their talents are: "I think work should be fulfilling."

Reflecting on their choice of 'Karmic Grind,' Smith said that karma represents good actions and grind represents grinding coffee, as well as the work they put into the shop– it is the compass that guides them.

"There is good action underneath all of our choices with the coffee shop," she began. "Underneath all of our decisions and behind all of our interactions, we do that in a million ways. Our bagels are local. Our muffins and cookies come from one of the best bakers. We send a driver to Brooklyn for dough every week. Our water bottles are curated to create and fund clean water projects. Devoicion ensures that every farming community sees environmental preservation."

The coffee shop has partnered with Devocion, a roaster out of Brooklyn that sources from Colombia, for almost a decade. They feature locally-sourced products and want to give back to their community in more ways than one.

"I think there's a lot of isolation in the world. We can work virtually, from home, but we then have less empathy and connection. We still want to know we have a neighbor who cares about us. Coffee is such a conduit for that. We want to bring people together. That's why we exist as people, to feel connected."

At the end of the day, the name reflects not only their approach to doing business, but also the choices they make in life.

"'Karmic Grind' is more than a name– it's everything that we live by," she said. "We're really proud of what we stand for.