On a sunny July morning, a line of vehicles stretched alongside Golden Grounds Coffee Co., a new drive-thru coffee stand serving customers in Nome.
Elizabeth Korenek-Johnson became a regular customer within the shop’s first week. “It’s great,” she said. “I love that you don’t have to get out of the car, and you can see how busy they are before you get here.”
While drive-thru coffee stands are common in many Alaska communities, Golden Grounds is the first of its kind in Nome in years.
Manager Benny Lie said demand exceeded expectations from the start. “I was expecting it to be busy, but not that busy,” Lie said. “We went through so many cups, syrups and powders.”
Owner Jessica Blandford believes part of the excitement comes from offering something new to the community. “It’s something new and exciting,” she said. “Nome has had a drive-thru before, but it’s been years.”
Blandford and her husband, Jesse, run a few other businesses, including JB Rentals and NAPA Auto Parts. Though the idea for the drive-thru was sparked by Blandfords’ 13-year-old daughter, Lexi. “She was sitting with me at NAPA and said, ‘I don’t want to work here, Mom,’” Blandford recalled with a laugh. “I told her, ‘Me neither.’”
Golden Grounds serves coffee roasted by Kaladi Brothers, along with fresh pastries and breakfast sandwiches made by local baker Kastyn Lie of Kastyn’s Cakes and Bakes.
