Coffee and community at On Sacred Grounds

Valleyford barista and coffee house owner Elaine Rising continues to grow her business, driven by community pride and a mission to bring people together.

Rising recently completed another expansion to On Sacred Grounds Coffee Shoppe by encompassing the existing drive-though and small interior building with a pole barn. The addition adds some 350 square feet to the original contractor’s shack and 10-by-14-foot space added in 2008, and brings current capacity to 12.

Passers-by along the Palouse Highway can’t miss the shop now, she says. Although set back a bit into the treed property, the periwinkle blue building with red accents is meant to grab attention.

“I’ve had new people come in since the addition was complete who said they’ve driven by many times but had to stop in and see what was going on,” Rising said. “What I’m trying to do here act as a beacon to drive the train for economic growth and community pride.”

Rising hopes to accomplish this by being a hub to bring people together, simply to meet or for regular groups. She also helps others grow their businesses by offering space for display and sales, and she schedules regular activities and offers speakers for community information gatherings. Zumba exercise classes are on the weekly schedule, as well as art and book club meetings. Rising also hosts the annual summertime Artists Loose on the Palouse Art and Craft Fair and other events.

Customers who venture inside will find a variety of used books for sale, along with local honey, gift cards, jewelry, pet outfits and even local milk. Rising also has a small menu of soups and sandwiches, including a weekend bagel special.

Part of her building also serves as a museum maintained by the Valleyford Historical Club.

Rising strives to make it a different kind of coffee shop, one that draws locals as well as customers who want a little bit of country in their day.

Rising first started selling specialty coffee from wood-fire roasted beans in 2003 at the Spokane Farmers Market, and she soon graduated to a coffee stand at Fred Meyer on Freya Avenue and later downtown in the foyer of the former Steam Plant.

In 2006, she moved her coffee house to Valleyford to property she already owned, to expand her business and because she lived nearby.