Prayer-built coffee shop brews holistic healing with fuel from Grandview father’s faith

GRANDVIEW, Mo. — Nate Thomas saw something others didn’t in the near-windowless former Masonic lodge and one-time Christian school in southern Jackson County, he said. The Missouri father-of-two envisioned a gathering place with handcrafted coffee and holistic care under one roof.

“Through prayer and patience, the Lord blessed us with this huge space,” said Thomas, a Grandview chiropractor and founder of ASE Coffee, 1800 Highgrove Road. “It became available, and we were able to purchase it and build it out.”

ASE Coffee at 1800 Highgrove Road in Grandview; photo by Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

The café business sits directly above his holistic health clinic, Precision Health, making it a unique fusion of his passions for wellness, community, and craft coffee, Thomas said.

Nate Thomas, right, chats with a customer at ASE Coffee in Grandview; photo Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“The goal is great service and quality ingredients, and delicious drinks,” he said. “We use organic milk, fair trade organic coffee, and our pastries come from Fox & Bull, made with organic flour and sourdough. Most of our syrups are house-made with organic sugar. No seed oils, no dyes, it’s all pretty natural and organic.”

The name “ASE” has several special meanings, he explained. It’s partly inspired by enzymes, tiny helpers in the body like protease and lipase that start important processes,  just like the shop hopes to spark positive change in the community. It’s also a reference to the Hebrew name “Asa,” which means “healer,” and to the pursuit of excellence, he said.

“I’ve wanted to do this for about 14 years,” Thomas said of getting into the coffee shop business. “We want to be a catalyst for action in our community, like an enzyme is in the body.” 

“It’s all connected,” he added.

The café’s interior reflects its purpose, moody and welcoming, with dark green tones, local artwork, and a speakeasy aesthetic inspired by cozy Brooklyn cafés. It’s not just a coffee shop; the hybrid space also is an emerging venue for live music and the arts.

“We’ve had some music events already and have more coming up,” said Thomas. “We’re featuring everything from jazz, lo-fi, and hip hop. We stick to original music to avoid licensing fees, but we still aim for high-quality performances.”

Nate Thomas, ASE Coffee; photo Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

Family focused future

Running a chiropractic practice, launching a coffee shop, and raising two young children is no small feat, Thomas said, acknowledging it’s a balancing act, but that he remains grounded in his priorities.

Nate Thomas, ASE Coffee; photo Taylor Wilmore, Startland News

“The biggest challenge is being here more than I’m with my family,” he admitted. “But we value hospitality deeply. This space is meant to be safe and welcoming, where people feel loved and treated well. There are too many grumpy faces behind the counters at other coffee shops; that’s not us.”

His wife, who co-founded Precision Health and homeschools their children, plays a vital role behind the scenes. Their seven-year-old daughter is already stepping into the family business in her own way.

“She puts herself to work,” Thomas said with a smile. “She’ll ask for a towel so she can wipe down shelves and tables. She’s going to be a little entrepreneur.”

The Thomas family recently purchased three acres just a mile away from ASE Coffee. The vision is to build a home, start a small farm, and eventually source some of the shop’s ingredients locally.

“It’d be really cool to produce our own products to supply the shop,” Thomas said. “It’s all part of the long-term plan.”

The café’s menu is growing as well. Alongside house-made breakfast burritos (available in sausage, chorizo, and veggie options), ASE recently introduced four batched cocktails on tap, giving guests even more reasons to linger.

The deeper mission behind the business is clear to Thomas, he said.

“I believe I’ve been obedient and faithful enough to see this through,” he explained. “We want to be a beacon of light, a place where people feel at home.”

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