After seven years brewing community in Locust Valley, Karmic Grind has crossed the harbor.
The shop is bringing its laid-back vibe, artisan coffee and signature pink tumblers to the heart of Oyster Bay.
In short, the grind doesn’t stop for owners Regina Smith and Alicia Zarou Scanlon.
“Good karma is when action comes from a good place — a good place for others — and grind is work and grit,” said Smith, who co-owns the expanding coffee company with Zarou Scanlon.
The new Karmic Grind opened last month at 69 Pine Hollow Road after two years of permits, planning and approvals.
Both the new space and the original in Locust Valley were designed to tell a story — one of local history, human connection and good karma.
How it happened
Smith and Scanlon met a decade ago at Smith’s yoga studio, Gritty Buddha, in Glen Cove. They instantly connected over their shared desire to give back and to honor the local communities that supported them.
“Let’s do this,” Smith told Scanlon — and with that, Karmic Grind was born.
Their second location came together much the same way: through the right people, at the right time.
“Two years ago, we were introduced to David Jacobson, who owns a lot of the buildings on this strip,” Smith said. “This building used to be a burger joint and a gas station in the 1940s.”
When crews began renovating, they discovered an 80-year-old Goodyear Tires sign buried beneath the parking lot — now the centerpiece of the shop. A vintage Porsche door also hangs on the wall.
“There’s this ethos of automotive, edgy art, and history,” Smith said.
Inside, visitors will hear Leon Bridges on the speakers and spot pastel pink “Grind & Be Kind” tumblers lining the shelves. Each 16-ounce steel bottle is made by MiiR, which donates part of each sale to clean water projects around the world.
The shop also features handmade mugs by a Japanese artist based in London and candles by Brooklyn Candle Studio — all chosen for their sustainable stories.
And, of course, there’s the coffee.
Karmic Grind partners with Devoción, a Brooklyn-based roaster that sources beans directly from Colombia. The company’s founder is committed, Smith said, to educational and economic givebacks for local farmers and to environmental preservation.
“The beans are dried in Bogotá and shipped here in only 10 days,” Smith said. “The caliber of how fast the beans get here is the story we want to tell.”
During a recent visit, she picked up a bag of Devoción beans roasted just three days earlier. Each week’s supply is used entirely before the next shipment arrives.
What’s brewing
The Oyster Bay menu features lattes, cappuccinos, mochas, and house specialties — including the caramel latte made with Maldon sea salt and real caramel, no artificial syrups.
“Our most popular drink is The Founder, made with cinnamon and Vermont maple syrup — what Alicia and I drink every day,” Smith said.
Food is prepared in-house, from yogurt parfaits and Caesar salads to pastries and egg sandwiches served on sourdough bread — which Smith said customers have described as “profound.”
“We’re obsessive about the caliber of what we share,” she said. “Whether it’s feeding your soul or your body, that connection matters.”
Smith is equally passionate about her team, describing them as smart, ambitious, and creative. Nala came out of retirement to help open the first store. Rachel, who holds a biomedical engineering degree, and others with backgrounds in theater and music all help shape the shop’s distinctive vibe.
“We want to feel like a place where you can walk in and unplug — where nothing’s so jarring, and you can just take a breath,” Smith said.
During a recent morning, a regular sat quietly sketching on his laptop — a reminder, Smith said, of what Karmic Grind was meant to be.
“Coffee is a conduit for people to connect and generate ideas and support one another,” she said. “It’s such a vessel for connection.”
Top: Karmic Grind opened last month at 69 Pine Hollow Road in Oyster Bay after two years of permits, planning and approvals. (Regina Smith courtesy photo)
