Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Spigener.
Jackie, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I love coffee. You could call me an addict, honestly. I was spending so much time and money going to Starbucks every day that I decided it would be more beneficial for me to open my own shop.
However, that’s not totally the reason. My husband and I love to go to local coffee shops when we are out of town, and we started doing the same around Houston. We wanted to try coffee that was actually good and not so full of sugar and we also love supporting local businesses. We had the opportunity to buy another old home to restore to its former glory and in 2012 we opened up Sycamore Grounds.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
No, but no business is ever smooth. We are located in a neighborhood and so getting the word out was difficult at first. We didn’t have a large marketing budget, so it was mostly word of mouth. Also, getting people out of the habit of going to chain coffee shops is hard. But we are here today and a staple in our community and we wouldn’t change it. We now have 2 locations and are looking to expand even further.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Sycamore Grounds is a local coffee shop in Pasadena that uses coffee roasted in Houston. Our main focus is the atmosphere. We wanted to create a place for kids to come study, people to meet up for coffee dates and provide our community with something unique without having to drive into the city. Aside from all of that, we really focus on making sure our coffee is delicious, our baked items are top notch and that everything is fresh and local.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up I was always involved in something. I spent most of my time in the band and became South Houston High School’s first ever girl drum major! I guess you could say I was determined and liked a challenge. This led to my careers as I began a construction company with my husband and we were very successful and the next challenge was starting more of our own businesses.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2502 Pansy St. Pasadena, TX 77503
3954 Spencer Hwy Pasadena, TX 77504 - Website: www.sycamoregrounds.com
- Phone: 281-978-6307 and (281) 888-7471
- Email: info@sycamoregrounds.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/sycamoregroundscoffeeshop
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sycamoregroundscoffee
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
