New coffee shop officially open and grinding

Thursday was a very big day in Bridgette Smith's life.

"This is something I've wanted ever since I was a little girl," she said.

No, Thursday definitely wasn't Smith's wedding day – that's already happened. Instead, Bridgette and her husband Jared on Thursday officially opened the doors to Morning Grind, a new coffee shop at 451 West Montgomery Street, previously Old Time Delicious Hot Dogs.

Bridgette Smith promises that there's "plenty for the non-coffee drinker," including a selection of breakfast sandwiches and lunch sandwiches, as well as baked goods. Also on the menu are smoothies and teas (see the complete food and beverage menu in the pics below).

Bridgette originally is from Monticello and Jared from suburban Atlanta, and they first met while going to college here.

"We found this spot and couldn't turn it down. We think it's a great location, and just today everybody has been so welcoming and wonderful," Bridgette said.

The hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and "closed Sunday."

The location is 451 West Montgomery Street, and Morning Grind shares the building with a barber shop on the other side of the wall. The building was first constructed as an old "filling station" in 1951, and the property still has many of the characteristics. According to Baldwin2k's Facebook audience, in the past the building also has been home to: 

• "Chester Hodges Sinclair Filling Station"

• "Bruce Lyles' Dad's Gas station in the early '80s."

• "an auto parts store

• "Tomlin's Starter & Alternator"

• "a title pawn place"

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