When Daniel Stidham asked customers what they liked most about Grove Coffee, the answers were pretty much what he expected. Some mentioned the coffee, others the atmosphere or the location.
But one customer gave an answer that stuck with him.
She said the staff are always smiling.
That simple observation says a lot about the kind of business Stidham wanted to create when he opened Grove Coffee in Oak Lawn a year ago.
“The heart and soul of grove will always be the joy of our team and how that’s shared with our customers and our products,” Stidham said.
Located at 4736 W. 103rd St., Grove Coffee celebrated its first anniversary Oct. 29. Stidham, an Oak Lawn resident and pastor at Calvary Church, opened the shop in 2025 with the idea of creating a neighborhood gathering place where people could enjoy good coffee and get to know one another.
It was a vision that came with some doubts from others.
Before the shop opened, Stidham said people questioned how well a coffee shop would do without gaming, alcohol or a drive-thru.
But he wasn’t interested in following someone else’s formula for success.
“Our goal isn’t to prove people wrong, it’s to inspire what’s possible,” he said.
That approach has shaped the shop from the beginning. Stidham has always believed that bringing people together is just as important as what is served across the counter.
“I love bringing people together – I am extremely extroverted,” he said in an interview shortly after opening. “Grove Coffee is all about fostering communication between customers.”
Even the name Grove Coffee has a connection to the community. Oak Lawn’s 95th Street was once known as Black Oak Grove Road, a reference to the natural groves where trees grow close together and their roots intertwine.
“At Grove, we believe our communities are more resilient when people grow close,” Stidham said.
That idea also led to a partnership with Forward Mentoring, a local organization that connects teens with mentors. Stidham wanted the coffee shop to help bring attention to the importance of mentoring and the difference those relationships can make in young people’s lives.
The menu has given customers plenty of reasons to stop in, too. The Oak Latte, made with cinnamon and maple flavors, has become one of the shop’s signature drinks. Other favorites include the cinnamon roll croissant and breakfast bagel sandwich with chipotle mayo.
The shop also has a private room available for meetings and a children’s play area featuring a miniature wooden coffee station.
After 12 months in business, Stidham said he is grateful for the people who have helped make Grove Coffee what it is today.
“It’s one year from our grand opening, and even though we have so much more to learn, we’re grateful to have 12 months of family as our foundation,” he said.
