Businesses of all kinds faced uncertainty surrounding the restrictions on businesses in March, but Jared Montgomery, owner of Scout Coffee recalls being especially worried because they hadn’t even been open a full year yet when the shutdown occurred. When asked how he dealt with it all, he explains “I really just took things day by day and was really grateful that we could offer curbside service and stay open as an essential business.”

Montgomery says he swiftly implemented all the health department’s recommendations for a clean and safe environment, and even took some precautionary steps of his own such as adding plexiglass partitions and a separate pick up area for drinks to help with social distancing.

Something new for Scout Coffee is their online ordering system. “Ultimately I started taking online orders out of necessity in order to stay open. I actually struggled with the decision because I take pride in the Scout Coffee experience and I didn’t want to bring on a fast-food vibe. But I’m glad we did it because now we see the benefits of both sides; being able to grab

coffee on the run, and also being a place to hang out and connect with friends. I realized maybe we can be a mix of both worlds, and I plan to continue taking online orders when all of this is over.”

While we can all agree that we’ll be glad when COVID is over, we’re not in the clear just yet. And while he hopes to avoid another shutdown, Montgomery says he’ll go with the flow if it happens. “We definitely don’t want to see another shutdown. But if there’s anything I’ve learned through all of this, it’s that you just have to keep going and trust in our community.”

Although online orders have proven helpful, Montgomery was still worried that having the lobby closed for so long would hurt business. To his surprise, Montgomery says people still come in every day. “Some of our customers come in more often now and we’ve even gained new customers that simply want to support local businesses more. One customer even donated a new picnic table so we could expand our outdoor seating!”

Montgomery goes on to say that while most of 2020 has been consumed with dealing with shutdowns and COVID, being voted “Best Coffee Shop” in the 2020 Eastern Jackson County Reader’s Choice Awards is something that wasn’t even on his radar. “Knowing that the community voted for us felt really good and it was a much welcomed glimmer of sunshine during a difficult year. Thank you for your support and for shopping small. It sounds cliche sometimes, but it really does impact people’s lives.”

Order online at scoutcoffeekc.square.site and indulge in a specialty holiday menu beverage to keep you warm while you shop local this holiday season!

Thank you to the City of Blue Springs, The Examiner, Community Services League Blue Springs, and Downtown Alive for supporting our local small businesses. Together, we are #BlueSpringsStrong!