BROWN COUNTY
COMMON GROUNDS continued from 47
They acquired the inventory of a similar shop that was closing, including fifty boxes of books, for a lump sum. From that beginning, the shop has grown into a delightful jumble of used books, furniture, collectibles, and art.
“ People bring me stuff,” she said.“ Most everything is for sale. Of course, the things people usually want usually are not. But for the most part, yes.”
The vision was set in place by sister Lita who suffered from crippling rheumatoid arthritis.
“ She came in and she said,‘ That color here, that color there, the bar is supposed to look like this’. She had it all planned out in her mind. In less than three months’ time, we had the front part open.”
“ The first day open, we didn’ t officially have our license yet, so everything was just given out,” Gearhart recalled.“ We have a group of friends from Muncie, every year they come down to camp, and there was like, forty of them, and
they’ re all musical. And they all agreed to come and play music. So, from noon to six that first day they set up here and rotated people playing music.”
And that is pretty much the way the whole enterprise has gone since then— friends gathering and pitching in and enjoying one another’ s company.
“ Everything about this place, is community,” she said.“ I keep saying, I’ ve got more blessings than anybody on earth deserves. It’ s just dumbfounding sometimes.”
Her sister passed away the summer following their opening in Nashville. Her father passed away about a month ago.
“ But I’ ve got a bunch of people who have been around me,” she said.“ I’ ve got good people surrounding me. I’ m very well taken care of.”
Common Grounds is open daily from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m., Sunday 9 a. m. to 4 p. m. They are closed Wednesday. They serve coffee, tea, pastry, soup, and cheesy eggs and toast. •
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BROWN COUNTY
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48 Our Brown County • March / April 2024