Solid Grounds Coffee Shop is a reality thanks mostly in part to one man’s donation

Courtney Kinsley, manager of Solid Grounds, snips the red ribbon at Monday’s chamber celebration.

JELLICO, TN (WLAF)- A challenge to start a coffee shop at Jellico was thrown down at Lynch, Ky, a few years ago. Cliff Branam, founder of Springs of Life Foundation, left that meeting in Harlan County questioning the challenge. Within two weeks of Branam returning to Jellico, the now late Joe Brown, donated a building, and the challenge was on.

Cliff Branam, the overseer of Solid Grounds, and Courtney Kinsley (left white shirt), Solid Grounds manager, welcomed Monday’s crowd.

Branam welcomed a coffee shop full of family, friends, community leaders and others to a Campbell County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism ribbon cutting at high noon Monday for Solid Grounds. The challenge became a reality a couple of years ago, and the ribbon cutting ceremony confirmed the fulfillment of the challenge.

The winding stairway takes you to the “Moms and Kids” room.

Solid Grounds is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm and Saturdays 8 to 4. Branam describes the atmosphere at Solid Grounds as “Christ centered hospitality”.

A look from the spiral staircase.

The coffee shop, on the corner of South Main and Beaver Streets, hosts Bible studies, even birthday parties. Upstairs, at the top of the spiraling black stairway, are a couple of spacious rooms just right for kids and coffee; moms relax and enjoy their coffee while the kids play, according to Courtney Kinsley, manager of Solid Grounds.

Moms can sit and sip coffee while their children play in the room to the left (pictured below)

“We are so happy to be here to celebrate Solid Grounds,” said Missy Tackett before the big red ribbon was cut. Tackett is the executive director of the Campbell County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism.

The Baristas, Lauren Lucas (left) and Alana Farrell, serve up smiles with every cup. Lucas of Danville, Kentucky, and Farrell from Kingsport, Tennessee, are students at the University of the Cumberlands at Williamsburg, Kentucky, and share some time at Solid Grounds.

“I just love to hear some of the stories of the lives that have been changed through this coffee shop. Solid Grounds is such an asset to Jellico and the county,” said Campbell County Vice Mayor Randy Brown.

“When Joe donated the building, I realized more than man was involved here, and that Jellico was going to have a coffee shop,” said Branam. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/04/2025-6AM)

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