Rural Missouri - December 2023 - 31

Josh Fankhauser smiles as he talks with assistant manager Mel Brown while making angels that will go on sale at Grow2Gather.
days and keep our distance and just try and finish projects
that were already started. Slowly and slowly we could
add more and more of our team. It just feels good to have
everyone back now. "
Amy says the attention to detail and quality of their
crafts is what keeps customers coming back. " I know I'm
more than a little biased, but our products are really well
made and last, " she says. " When people come back and
buy their second or third item from us, they're not doing it
just because of our mission. It's because the products are
so good. "
Grow2Gather keeps their prices competitive while
also pointing out the handmade quality that will make it
last. While furniture - such as benches, tables and lazy
Susans - might cost as much as $500, Amy estimates
95% of the items sold in the store range in price from $5 to
$75. " I know maybe a big-box store might offer a scarecrow
for $10 where ours is $15, " she says. " We do look
around at other prices, but we know that ours is going to
last you longer. "
In the summer, the employees care for the 45 raised
garden beds they have behind the shop and later sell the
produce from them.
This fall, the coffee shop inside Grow2Gather expanded
to include breakfast. The menu features staples such as
breakfast sandwiches and burritos, sweets such as French
toast and cinnamon rolls and build-your-own omelets.
However, their most popular item - other than coffee - is
the homemade biscuits and gravy. " We say it's the best
biscuits and gravy in five states, " Amy says with a laugh.
Jeane Oligschlaeger of Wellsville and her friends " solve
all the world's problems every Monday morning " over coffee
at the shop in New Florence.
" Everyone is very friendly and it's for a good cause, "
Jeane says. " We love the kids that work here and love
getting to know them. And I'm partial to the biscuits and
gravy. "
The coffee can be the perfect roast, the biscuits and
gravy can taste just like Grandma used to make and the
handmade decor might make the perfect finishing touch
to your holiday decorations, but for Mel and Amy, Grow2Gather
is about the people.
" I love being creative in my job, " Mel says. " But the
coworkers are what I think of the most. They're fun, funny,
sweet and hard workers. "
" I knew when I started they would become a big part of
my life, " Amy adds. " But I didn't realize how they would
turn into my family. For all of us here, this is a labor of
love. "
New Florence
Grow2Gather is located at 493
Booneslick Road in New Florence. The
store is open Monday to Friday, 6
a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m.
to noon. Closed Sunday. For more
information, call 573-835-4769,
find them on Facebook or visit
shopgrow2gather.square.site.
DECEMBER 2023 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 31

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Rural Missouri - December 2023

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