Common Grounds, a coffeehouse, was opened by Mary and Lisa Rogers in 1992 as an alternative to the Denver bar scene.In 1992 alternative meant "No Smoking," charging a whole 75¢ for a cup of coffee, and offering a live music stage. It also meant taking a chance on a struggling neighborhood, the Highlands. We’ve grown since then by opening another location in Crestone in 1994 (although we closed it in 1995) and then our third store in LoDo in 1999.