05/28/2026
Yes… the rumors are true 😁
Greg and I are excited to announce our next acquisition! Christina and Al have done an incredible job over the past eight years, and we’re honored to continue building on everything they’ve created. 🎉
We’re thrilled to become part of Bellaire and are looking forward to meeting everyone and growing alongside such a great town and the people who make it special.
You’ll be seeing us around more and more — just maybe not much during July… because, you know… cherries 🍒😅
We’re incredibly excited for this next chapter and grateful for the opportunity to carry on the great tradition that’s already been established.
Cheers to what’s ahead! And we look forward to serving you ☕️
Hi everyone,
This is not an easy message to write, because M88 Morning Grind, this warm & welcoming coffee shop, has never just been a business —it has been a home, a dream, and a place that has been shaped by every single one of you.
After a lot of reflection, our family has made the decision to sell the shop to some local business owners, Greg and Rob Shooks. They are the owners of Shooks Farm & Cellar 1914 Winery in Central Lake. It was incredibly important to us that whoever took this step would honor what we’ve built together—and we wholeheartedly believe they will. We are very happy that Greg and Rob love and appreciate what WE have built over the last eight years. And when I say we, that means us, our fantastic team, and ALL of you! All that support us, or have supported us helped build and shape this community gathering space into what it is today.
We want to reassure you all -nothing major will be changing. The spirit of this place—the warmth, the familiar faces, the care that goes into every cup, —will remain just as it is. And yes, the same delicious food! We also want to reassure our local Veterans, our local heroes, that this space is still their space. Veterans still get free coffee anytime they visit, free coffee and donuts every third Wednesday of the month during our Coffee Talks social hour(s). And a Veterans discount anytime they visit for breakfast or lunch.
And we’re not going anywhere. Christina will still be here 40 hours per week, continuing to manage the shop, working side by side with our current team. Al will also be here, working an average of 15 hours per week. We are very pleased to continue working here & especially with our current team.
After the busy summer season, we will be working more with Greg and Rob as they begin spending more time at the coffee shop. They are looking forward to meeting you all.
So you may be wondering why, why are they selling? This next chapter gives Christina something she’s been needing…space to grow in new ways. She is excited to bring more creativity into the shop, to try new ideas, and to offer even more of what makes this place special—while also allowing time to be more present with her family, her friends, and focus more on her own well-being. Al has pursued a new dream and has jumped in head first into the world of real estate. If you know Al, you know he’s a man who wears many hats and always looking for a new challenge.
We want to say thank you. Thank you for your support, your kindness, your conversations, your loyalty, and the way you’ve made this place feel alive every single day. There are so many moments, big and small, that we will carry with us forever—and they all exist because of you.
This isn’t an ending—it’s a new beginning, and we’re so grateful we get to continue it together.
We will be CLOSED MONDAY, TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY (1st-3rd) of next week to finalize the sale and take care of all the administrative tasks. We thank you for understanding.
With all our 🩵 & appreciation,
Al & Christina Balko
p.s. gift cards will be honored.
