We had the good fortune of connecting with Pitchayada Juntima and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Pitchayada, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was a homemaker for the past several years, and I wanted to get back into the workforce once my son was older. I missed the creative challenges of working full-time.
I am a trained baker and always wanted to own a coffee cafe that sells beverages and treats. I also wanted to start a family business with my sister and her husband, who lived in Washington DC until mid-2022. They moved to Colorado in 2023 so that we could turn our dream into a reality.
We were looking to start up a cafe from scratch but found an established business where the owner was looking to retire. My husband and I purchased the existing business and took over operations on February 1st, 2023. Buying a turnkey shop saved us time and still allowed us to put our own creative spin on the cafe.
What should our readers know about your business?
The business I run is Ground Up Coffee in Littleton. We are a local coffee cafe that sells delightful and unique beverages, pastries, and other food items. Our breakfast burritos and monthly beverage specials are incredibly popular. We also make other items from scratch, including layered crepe cakes and to-go treats. We are excited about our upcoming menu addition as well. We are introducing freshly-made in-house sweet and savory crepes, including popular recipes like cookies and cream.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would first take them to our coffee shop since I’m proud of what we’ve built. I’d then take them to Red Rocks for a hike and to Rocky Mountain National Park for some sightseeing.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I couldn’t have done this without my sister, her husband, and my husband. They all provided guidance throughout the process of buying the existing business. My husband understands the business side of operations and helped us through the acquisition process and with accounting. My sister and her husband not only work long hours as baristas (along with our other barista, Julie), but they are also continually helping to guide our overall strategy, from menu creation to operations, and more.
Website: https://www.grounduplittleton.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/groundupcoffeelittleton/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groundupcoffeecafe/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ground-up-coffee-cafe-littleton-2
Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundupcoffeelittleton