Gravel City Roasters Offers Good Coffee and Great Vibes in Emporia

This article originally appeared on and was written for Emporia Regional Development Association by Golden Shovel Agency.

Residents and visitors traveling through Emporia, Kansas, can refuel at Gravel City Roasters at 715 Commercial Street. Joe Corn has owned the coffee shop since 2023, but has enjoyed making delicious drinks and treats there since 2010.

“As a business owner, this town has been really good to me,” says Corn. “Emporia on its worst day can never make me hate it.”

Corn has had a unique journey to Emporia, and he and his wife Clara are deeply passionate about the community. His love for the region and his history with Gravel City Roasters have made him an ideal owner for the shop. Not only do customers enjoy high-quality products, but employees have a great place to work.

Joe and Clara Returned to Emporia After Grad School

Joe and Clara first encountered the region in 2010, when Clara was attending graduate school at Emporia State University. They originally planned to live in Emporia for only three years, but after briefly returning home to Oklahoma, they decided to return. Joe was a barista at Barnes & Noble, so it was a natural fit to start work at Gravel City Roasters under the former owners, Angie and Nic Baker.  

In the 10 years since he started working at Gravel City Roasters, Corn advanced to manager and eventually bought the store. It moved to a new location downtown, where its space tripled in size.

“I had originally joked about buying the place, but Angie took me seriously,” says Corn. “I’m still in awe at how lucky I am to have stumbled into this opportunity.”

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