Meet Tj Fairchild | co-founder – Commonplace Coffee

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tj Fairchild and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi TJ, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind Commonplace Coffee’s success is the people who have connected with our mission. This includes both our guests and our staff. The first couple of years it was just my wife and I working the coffee bar. A this point, the most important factor behind our success were the people that came in and supported our desire to create space for people to gather. As the business grew we realized that the connection to our mission was also seen in the people that desired to work alongside us to accomplish that same mission. That mission starts with hospitality and extends to gathering people, making sure the people that gather feel a sense of belonging, and setting the table with Incredible specialty coffee and delicious treats. We are still experiencing that same success today by adhering to that same basic mission 21 years later. It extends over several of our own retail locations. And can be seen through our consultation service as we help other people open coffee shops to continue that same mission.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
What sets us apart from other businesses is our desire to create community with our staff, our guests, and our colleagues in the coffee industry. We have arrived at this place because of people investing in us. We have arrived at this place because people work along side us with incredible skill and passion. We have survived 21 years because of so many different levels of investment and in a variety of ways. It hasn’t been easy but it has been incredibly beautiful to see when it works. We have learned to be patient when it is hard because beauty is always around the corner. And even when those days are long and the work is hard there are some real, human experiences that make it all worthwhile. Commonplace Coffee was born out of desire to serve people delicious coffee. We have learned that serving people takes a variety of forms: service to guests, service to coworkers, service to vendors, service to coffee farmers and more.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Anytime we have guests to our area we are passionate about taking them to all of our favorite coffee shops and local places to eat. We also love showing sites that express the history of our city. We are eager to show folks the commitment to art our city has. The outdoor activities and parks are also high on the list.

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 am amazed at how many people have helped contribute to who I am today. It still informs how I live each day personally and how our business is geared to help others open coffeehouses. I have to say that the most impactful people on who Commonplace Coffee has become were folks that I met while I was a barista in graduate school. Greg and Connie were “regulars” at a local coffeehouse. We ended up spending time together outside of that shop. They both invested time in Julie and I as were trying to figure out what next step our lives would take. As we finished graduate school it was obvious our professional lives were going to pivot. We would not have had the clarity about next steps without Greg and Connie. They identified our skill and passion lined up perfectly with the coffee industry. They helped with strategizing, financing, and general support of those next steps. And 25 years of friendship later we continue to communicate on a regular basis for advice and direction.

Website: https://www.commonplacecoffee.com

Instagram: Commonplace Coffee