ARLINGTON, Texas—An independently owned cafe in the heart of Arlington stands for kindness and inclusivity, especially with its food.

Grounds and Gold Co. is a small cafe located at 4130 S. Bowen Road owned by Maurice Ahern. Ahern’s son, Micah Ahern, died in July 2016 after a long journey with cancer.

To honor his son’s legacy, Ahern started Gold Ribbon Confections. Ahern’s dream was to turn his popular baked goods into a cafe where people can gather for a cup of coffee, food and a good conversation. Family friends Jenifer and Jimmy Kinley joined Ahern in his effort, and together they created Grounds and Gold Co.

The cafe makes it a point to be inclusive and welcoming to all different types of people, including those with dietary restrictions. It offers a variety of gluten-free pastries as well as gluten-free alternatives on the menu. There are dairy-free options for the drinks, as well as sugar-free choices for flavors and syrups.

“We try our best to be very, very careful about handling gluten-free stuff and dietary restrictions because we want people to feel welcome,” Hayat Mohammed, a front-of-house barista at Grounds and Gold Co. said. “A lot of people come in and tell me that they come here specifically to get the gluten-free stuff, and that makes us happy. That genuinely makes us happy.”

Mohammed has worked at the cafe for the past year and said she has seen regulars make connections with each other. She said employees are motivated not just to make money but to spread kindness.

“It’s very important for us to be a welcoming space,” Mohammed said. “If you want that kind of community, we’d recommend coming here.”