Grounds Cafe

- 2410 Hughes Ave, Bronx, NY 10458

Grounds Cafe is more than just your average New York coffee shop; it’s a dynamic community space and social enterprise nestled in the vibrant Little Italy neighborhood of the Bronx, conveniently close to Fordham University. While it certainly delivers on the promise of excellent coffee and a wide array of delicious menu options—including baked goods, sandwiches, and hot items—its mission extends far beyond the cup. Grounds Cafe is built on a foundational commitment to empowerment and community-building, aiming to be a place where every story matters and shared humanity is celebrated. It stands as a beacon for local engagement, offering both a place of refuge and a thriving innovation hub for residents, students, and community leaders alike.

The concept for Grounds Cafe was born from the initiative of women activists who sought to create a safe, healthy, and empowering community center. After gaining significant recognition in a competition, the idea materialized into a tangible, welcoming space at the heart of the Bronx. This focus on local impact is what truly sets Grounds Cafe apart from other dining and coffee spots in the New York area. It actively works to boost the local economy and empower women from the community through job training and employment, ensuring that every purchase goes toward supporting a larger, positive social mission.

For residents of the Bronx and New York, finding a reliable spot for your daily caffeine fix and breakfast or lunch is essential, and Grounds Cafe offers that and much more. The comprehensive menu, paired with the café's deep commitment to its neighborhood, makes it a must-visit destination. Whether you're a student looking for a place to study, a professional seeking a morning espresso and a fresh bagel, or a community member ready to connect and contribute to a powerful local initiative, Grounds Cafe provides the perfect setting. It seamlessly blends the comforting atmosphere of a classic local cafe with the forward-thinking energy of a social hub.

When you step inside Grounds Cafe, you are supporting a venture that is dedicated to fostering community in the Bronx and beyond, building it one coffee at a time. The café’s role as an engine for empowerment, a venue for artistic expression, and a safe space for dialogue firmly cements its status as an invaluable local establishment. This isn't just a place to grab coffee; it’s a place to make a difference.

The location of Grounds Cafe is 2410 Hughes Ave, Bronx, NY 10458, USA. This address places it directly in the lively Little Italy area, also known as Belmont, and in very close proximity to Fordham University. The central location in the Bronx makes it easily accessible for a significant segment of the local New York population, including students, faculty, and area residents. Its placement near one of New York's major universities helps foster its identity as a collaborative and multi-generational space. For those utilizing public transportation, the neighborhood is typically serviced by various bus routes, and is relatively near subway connections, providing convenient access from other parts of the Bronx and Manhattan.

Grounds Cafe is dedicated to offering an extensive menu of high-quality coffee and food, alongside its profound community initiatives. The array of services and offerings ensures that every visitor, regardless of their immediate need—be it a quick bite or a venue for social engagement—will find what they are looking for.

Services Offered

• Full Espresso Bar: Including expertly crafted Espresso, Cappuccino, Cafe Latte, Cafe Mocha, and Cafe Americano, ensuring every coffee craving is met.
• Gourmet Coffee and Tea: Offering a variety of freshly brewed gourmet coffees (such as French Roast, Italian Dark Roast, and flavored options like Vanilla and Hazelnut) and hot teas.
• Iced and Blended Drinks: A selection of Cold Brew, Nitro Cold Brew, Iced Lattes, and refreshing Fruit Smoothies and Protein Shakes.
• Fresh Baked Goods: An expansive selection of house-made items including a variety of Bagels (Plain, Everything Stick, Cinnamon Raisin, etc.), Loaves of Bread (Sourdough, Cranberry Walnut, Nine Grain), Muffins, Scones, and Croissants.
• Sandwiches and Hot Food: Offering Hot Breakfast Sandwiches, Custom and Popular Cold Sandwiches, Salads, and ultra-thin 10" Pizzas.
• Desserts and Treats: A full selection of sweet indulgences like French Macarons, various Cookies, Brownies & Bars, and Cakes (such as Tiramisu and Carrot Cake).
• Catering Services: Providing catering for business meetings and events with a dedicated catering menu, including order forms for groups.
• Community Meeting Space: Functioning as an open space for people from diverse backgrounds to gather, listen, learn, and collaborate on shared solutions.
• Job Training and Employment: Providing training and employment opportunities, specifically focused on empowering women from the Bronx community to boost the local economy and promote career development.
• Tutoring and Mentorship Programs: Offering a collaborative space to match Fordham students with local children for weekly homework help, tutoring, and mentorship.
• Conversation Hours: Hosting weekly conversation hours, pairing community members and students to help improve English, Spanish, or French conversational skills, deepening a sense of community connection.
• Wellness Space: Providing a hub for mental health tips, resources, monthly workshops, and wellness sessions tailored for women and youth.
• Artistic Hub: Inviting local artists to share their work and learn about global coffee and tea-making rituals, highlighting the stories of women from the community through displayed art and crafts for purchase.
• Innovation and Safe Space: Operating as a venue for developing innovative ideas, sharing stories, and accessing training on rights and services available to community members in the Bronx.

The dedication of Grounds Cafe to both culinary excellence and social responsibility is evident in its numerous features, making it a compelling spot for any New Yorker looking for quality and purpose.

Features / Highlights

• Social Enterprise Model: The café is intentionally designed as a coffee shop committed to reframing current narratives, fostering community, and empowering women through job training and employment in the local Bronx community.
• Extensive Menu Variety: Going beyond standard coffee shop fare, the menu includes a wide variety of freshly prepared items from gourmet coffees and house-made bagels to specialty sandwiches, soups, salads, and thin-crust pizzas.
• Focus on Local Empowerment: The initiative was generated by women activists, and a core function is to train and employ women from the Bronx, with a documented history of training aspiring baristas and securing NYS Food Handling Certification for local women.
• Academic and Community Partnership: The location near Fordham University facilitates active collaboration, including the student-led tutoring and mentorship programs that bridge the gap between the university and the surrounding community.
• Voted Favorite Menu Items (by association with other Grounds locations' popularity): Customers often praise the quality of their bagels, fresh breads, and breakfast sandwiches, though reviews for this specific location are still emerging due to its new establishment date. Their commitment to fresh, in-house baking is a consistent draw.
• Multi-Purpose Community Hub: The space serves diverse functions—a refuge, an artistic venue, an innovation hub, a safe space for accessing rights and services, and a wellness resource center—making it a crucial gathering spot for the neighborhood.
• Commitment to Quality Baked Goods: The comprehensive menu of baked goods, including over a dozen bagel flavors, various muffins, scones, and loaves of bread, emphasizes fresh, daily-made products, catering to the quintessential New York breakfast and snack culture.

What is worth choosing

Choosing Grounds Cafe is an easy decision for New Yorkers who prioritize quality, convenience, and community impact. The sheer variety of the menu ensures that you can stop by for anything from a quick, morning espresso and a freshly baked everything bagel stick to a satisfying lunch of a custom sandwich or a slice of ultra-thin pizza. They offer the complete cafe experience, with options for any time of day—whether you need a hot Cafe Latte to warm up on a cold day or a refreshing Cold Brew Draft in the summer heat. The extensive selection of desserts, including French Macarons and Tiramisu, also makes it an ideal spot for an afternoon treat or a gift.

However, the most compelling reason to choose Grounds Cafe over other establishments is its deep-seated commitment to the Bronx community. Every cup of coffee and every sandwich sold contributes directly to empowering local women through job training and career development. By spending your money here, you are not just making a transaction; you are investing in a proven social mission that creates a positive, tangible difference in the lives of Bronx residents. The cafe's role as a vibrant community hub, offering free tutoring, conversation hours, and a safe space, solidifies its value as an essential local institution. It's a place where you can relax, study, and meet neighbors, all while supporting a business that truly gives back. For a quality menu and a powerful purpose, Grounds Cafe is undoubtedly the top choice in the Little Italy neighborhood.

Contact Information

Address: 2410 Hughes Ave, Bronx, NY 10458, USA

Phone: Information not publicly available in provided snippets for this specific location. Please search for the current contact number for direct inquiries.

Grounds Cafe

2410 Hughes Ave, Bronx, NY 10458, USA