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Concord native closes doors on downtown coffee shop. ‘I’m beyond grateful’

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A Charlotte-area coffee shop is “officially closed” after nearly two years in business.

High Grounds Coffeehouse on Monday, Oct. 6, announced it was shutting the doors on its spot along Barbrick Avenue in downtown Concord, according to an Instagram post.

A reason for the closure wasn’t immediately clear.

A wide, eye-level shot of a street in Concord, North Carolina. The asphalt road slopes uphill toward the background. At the top of the hill, a prominent light-blue water tower with the word “Concord” in red script is centered in the frame. The scene is flanked by brick buildings and vibrant green trees on a bright day with a blue sky and scattered clouds. A green lamppost and a pedestrian crossing sign are in the right foreground.
High Grounds Coffeehouse officially opened in downtown Concord, NC, in January 2024. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

“Owning this shop has been one of the greatest adventures of my life, and I’m beyond grateful for the love, support and encouragement I’ve received over the past two years,” owner Andrea Runyan wrote on Instagram.

Opened in January 2024, High Grounds was “more than just a coffee shop but … a quaint sanctuary” for locals strolling the city’s downtown, officials wrote in a profile highlighting Runyan, a Concord native. The beloved coffeehouse found a home on the ground floor of the new Novi Lofts.

Last summer, a major streetscape construction project aimed at drawing new visitors to the historic district made the area tough to navigate, CharlotteFive reported. Foot traffic was slow, and many local businesses struggled.

It’s not clear if the heavy construction played a part in High Grounds’ closure.

CharlotteFive reached out to Runyan for more information Tuesday and was awaiting a response.

The coffee house used beans from Colorado, where Runyan lived for a few years after college, according to Concord officials. The name “High Grounds” was her way of bringing that chapter of her life back home.

“From the regulars who became friends, to the new faces that brought joy through the door, each of you has been part of this journey and made it so meaningful,” she said via Instagram.

Local love for High Grounds

Runyan thanked the downtown Concord community for “being part of my dream,” adding: “I truly hope it’s not a goodbye but a ‘see you again.’”

The sign-off prompted an outpouring of reactions from locals sad to see High Grounds go:

  • “You are the only coffee place I go to in downtown and I’m gonna miss you so much! Your coffee gets me through tough days in the office,” Instagram user @applepie0712 commented.
  • “I will miss hanging out and talking to you while you make some great coffee,” Mark Shropshire wrote. “Wishing you the best and can’t wait to hear what you do next.”
  • “Sending you all my love and support in your next journey Andrea! You will be missed,” The Downtown Dirty, which highlights business in downtowns across Cabarrus County, wrote.
  • “Forever my favorite coffee in Concord! ❤️ Best wishes for your next adventure!!,” wrote Babetta Popoff.

High Grounds Coffeehouse

Location: 25 Barbrick Ave SW Ste. 103, Concord, NC 28025

Cuisine: Coffee

Menu

Instagram: @highgroundscoffeehouse

This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 11:35 AM.

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Tanasia Kenney

Sun Herald

Tanasia is a service journalism reporter based at the Charlotte Observer | CharlotteFive, working remotely from Atlanta, Georgia. She recently joined the NC Service Journalism team and covers restaurant openings/closings in Charlotte and statewide stories. She’s been with McClatchy since 2020.

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