After last month’s passionate plea from community members, a Utah County coffee shop will soon see its last day — at least for now.
Rugged Grounds opened at 156 W. 500 South in Provo almost eight years ago. Its last day of business is Sunday, according to a sign posted on the business’s door. Sadie Crowley, one of the three co-owners of the shop (alongside Skyler Saenz and Claire Buiatti), said the shop was given one month’s notice and asked to vacate by March 1.
Last month, several dozen supporters of Rugged Grounds packed a Provo planning commission meeting to speak on a proposal to replace the shop with a 129-apartment project. The development is meant to bring affordable housing to the nearby FrontRunner train station. At the meeting, supporters told stories of finding culture, connection and family at the coffee shop.
Over the years, Rugged Grounds has become a “third space” — somewhere to go that isn’t work or home — and a counterculture hub for many in Utah County.
Mike Morley, the apartment project’s developer, initially said there wouldn’t be room to keep the coffee shop in the new structure. However, later in the meeting, he came back to say he would “certainly entertain” an idea of working together with the shop’s owners. Planning commissioners approved the proposal while encouraging the developer to work with Rugged Grounds.
(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Rugged Grounds coffee shop in Provo on Jan. 8, 2025.
Crowley said she has met with the architect, Brett Harris, once since that meeting. On Monday, Packer Morley, the senior vice president of real estate development at American Charter Development & Finance, sent Crowley an email saying the business could occupy about 1,200 square feet in the new building. The shop’s current space is about 1,700 square feet, Crowley said.
“They did say that it would probably be about two years before the project is completed,” Crowley said.
Packer Morley confirmed that is the timeline the developers anticipate with current construction plans.
