Better Business Challenge: Mudhouse
As student volunteers working with the local nonprofit organization Better World Betty, our group participated in the Charlottesville Area Better Business Challenge by assisting one of the more than 100 businesses taking part in the Challenge in their efforts to better implement sustainable business practices. Specifically, we worked with Mudhouse, a coffee shop located on the historic Downtown Mall that serves delicious coffee in a hip, funky atmosphere. In our meetings with Dan Pabst, Director of Operations for Mudhouse, our initial goal was to help him become more acquainted with the structure of the Better Business Challenge and to start thinking about areas of the business that could use some improvement.
Better Business Challenge, Mudhouse, sustainable business, bicycling, sustainable transportation, Leigh Barie, Karim Habbab
4702
portfolio_page-template-default,single,single-portfolio_page,postid-4702,single-format-standard,minimum-core-1.0.5,ajax_updown_fade,page_not_loaded

Better Business Challenge: Mudhouse

Mudhouse (click PDF)

Fall 2011

Team members: Leigh Barie, Karim Habbab

As student volunteers working with the local nonprofit organization Better World Betty, our group participated in the Charlottesville Area Better Business Challenge by assisting one of the more than 100 businesses taking part in the Challenge in their efforts to better implement sustainable business practices. Specifically, we worked with Mudhouse, a coffee shop located on the historic Downtown Mall that serves delicious coffee in a hip, funky atmosphere. In our meetings with Dan Pabst, Director of Operations for Mudhouse, our initial goal was to help him become more acquainted with the structure of the Better Business Challenge and to start thinking about areas of the business that could use some improvement.

In our discussion of Mudhouse’s daily operations, the physical condition of the building, and the sustainable decisions being made in purchasing, preparing, and serving their products, it seemed as though the business had already taken great steps towards sustainability and we were having difficulty identifying additional projects to undertake. However, when we reviewed the six categories of “action items” that composed the Challenge scorecard, it became evident that transportation was the one area in which Mudhouse was lacking compared to the other points already earned.

Based on this objective, we began brainstorming ways in which Mudhouse could earn more Challenge points for transportation. Given their convenient central location in downtown Charlottesville and the fact that they have created a fun, relaxed vibe in their coffeehouse where customers come and hang out, we decided to focus on educating Mudhouse employees and patrons about alternative modes of transportation, especially bicycling. Dan Pabst expressed interest in adding a bike rack in front of or behind the building to encourage people to ride their bikes to work or to get coffee. We also wanted to create a colorful brochure that could be handed out to customers and staff members that listed some benefits of cycling and resources around the Charlottesville area that would hopefully encourage them to practice a more sustainable lifestyle by biking more and driving less.

mudhouse