The Gathering Grounds: A Kirksville café built around conversation

The Gathering Grounds began with a specific idea: give people in Kirksville a place to sit together and talk. Founder Audra Jackson described that motivation in March 2025 coverage of the café's ribbon-cutting. Time spent talking with her daughter in coffee shops helped inspire the business at 2121 North Baltimore Street.

Truman's March 2026 entrepreneurship coverage identifies Jackson as founder and owner and places the opening in 2025. The café is a local business venture with a gathering-place purpose, rather than simply a name attached to a coffee menu.

Coffee and something to eat

The Gathering Grounds website lists drinks and café food, including house-made chai, smoothies, scones and salted caramel banana bread. Those choices give a visit several possible forms: coffee with a friend, a baked item to take away or a non-coffee drink.

Jackson's opening-era interview described groups meeting around a back table. That helps explain the space she intended to create. It does not establish a current reservation policy or guarantee a quiet workspace. If you need seating for a club or a longer meeting, ask about arrangements ahead of time.

The business's contribution to Kirksville is grounded in that combination of food, drinks and a place to meet. The founder's stated purpose is community connection; no attendance or economic-impact claim is needed to describe it.

Use the current schedule

The café's website currently lists Tuesday–Friday, 6 a.m.–5 p.m., and Saturday, 7 a.m.–3 p.m., with Sunday and Monday closed. Older opening coverage included Monday, so use the current business site when planning a visit.

The listed phone is 660-216-3868, and the contact email is theggcoffeehouse@gmail.com. Check The Gathering Grounds online for its latest menu and hours.

For a separate downtown sweets stop, see To Die For Bakery.

For a downtown space now focused on special events, see SIP Downtown.

Information checked September 27, 2026.