Common Grounds Coffee Shop — Restaurant in Cleveland

Will never go up there again. Not even if I am desperately trying to find coffee at 3am. Not worth the money. I ordered a "dirty girl scout" because it sounds interesting. Not only was the coffee burned but the flavor syrup was old and the guy behind the counter had to add hot water to the bottle of syrup. There were all types of kids up there hanging around a TV screen watching a person play video games...... Right in the middle of the walk way to get to the restroom. I had to say excuse me about 10 times. And the kids that were huddled around the TV screen just gave me blank stares. The men's restroom was out of order being used for a mop cubby. And one person said it had been broken for 3 years. So I had to use the ladies bathroom. Once I opened the door you could smell rancid vagina and sweat. Like someone had been having sex in there not to long ago. Tho I don't think anyone would want to put it inside that. There a was huge amount of tampons in the tapon bin. So much so that it was over flowing. And it said "look in here for red velvet cake". There was graffiti all over the walls in the bathroom. Some degradation of women. I walked out of the bathroom felling dirty. I used hand sanitizer for soap because there wasn't any and I didn't want to risk touching the sink. The pin ball machine was out of order. There was a place to play whatever music you wanted. I played a song. Didn't even hear it after 30 mins. And here is some information that will deter anyone who doesn't smoke from entering the premises. After about 12am they guy behind the counter says "smokem if you got em" meaning "were going to break the law because we don't give a f". And after that point I had enough. I called that number you see on anti smoking signs. And reported them. They said they would send someone out in the morning. Well the person I called said he did smell smoke he couldn't do anything. So I went up their agian. And flimed people smoking. So I could turn it over to the...

As a high school and college student in the late 90's and early 2000's I used to love going to Common Grounds. They had the best jukebox and cheap, but decent coffee along with other delightful coffee drinks.

It was and is an essential place for youths, insomniacs, and misfits to gather at during the evening hours when you just don't want to be home.

And during the day, you can get coffee there too, and you should, because it isn't just like every other sanitized boring old corporate coffee chain. It is a locally owned establishment that is an asset to the neighborhood. But it isn't the same as at night, I will say that.

I popped in tonight for the first time in probably a decade (I live on the east side now) to get my sister, who was just down the street at Fairview Hospital, having recently just given birth to her second child, a Peanut Butter Albino. It was the only thing she asked me to do or get for her, so I was happy to oblige.

Not a lot has changed in the past 20 years, which is pretty cool in a way. It's a little cleaner and brighter, which is nice. No longer is it filled with cigarette smoke, which isn't a bad thing, unless you still smoke. Hell, there was even a barista still working there from way back in the day! The only real bummer is that it is still a cash-only establishment.

But as long as you know it is a cash only establishment, why not pop in if you are in the...

Used to love this place when it was 24/7, but don't go on a Monday or Wednesday now. I hate sounding like a karen but the "chess club" there take up tables even when no ones sitting there and a few have been too creepy to my friends in the past. Its gross. The head person of this chess club or whatever shooed us from our table to the point a couple people also were like confused. My friends and I were about to sit down after we bought our coffees. We walked through the whole shop to see what seats were open. Like we are sitting down at a nice table by the window and this guy runs over to tell us we cant have the table when he didn't even order anything! Like he wasn't even sitting at or near that table the whole time we were in there. I think at one point we heard him pressuring this old guy to move from his table too even though it was only the one chess guy. The bald barista guy did nothing. I get covid may have hit this place hard and they like need business but I keep hearing from people that they have trouble with the chess guys. Also I like never see the chess group buy things? Yet if my friend forgets to buy something as she walks in she gets told she needs to buy...