Evolution of an Enterprise, Chapter 28: Open For Brew

Six months of labor may be just the beginning of a blossoming business relationship for Jason Mitchell and Michael Mardis, owners of design firm theworkshop 308.

In June, Jim Hamilton walked into theworkshop 308 to discuss his plans to open a coffeehouse. That coffeehouse, The Coffee Ethic, was scheduled to open Dec. 3 in the Kresge building on Park Central Square.

Mitchell and Mardis designed tables, chairs, a barista counter and The Coffee Ethic’s logo.

Their relationship with The Coffee Ethic co-owners Hamilton and Tom Billionis has been so strong that Mitchell and Mardis evolved into unofficial project managers for The Coffee Ethic infill process.

“It’s been revealed that these are two very like-minded companies,” Mitchell said, noting similar philosophies on design and environmental efficiency. “I think we’re inspiring each other.”

The 13 tables inside the 1,600-square-foot coffeehouse are made of wood reclaimed from the Ozarks’ historic January ice storms.

Mitchell and Mardis have a history of forming furniture from reclaimed materials.

The Coffee Ethic pays at least fair-trade prices for coffee and serves its brew in either ceramic or biodegradable paper cups labeled with soy ink. Pastries are provided by local bakery The Artisan’s Oven, 1832 S. Ingram Mill Road.

Now, the foursome is discussing the possibility of opening additional coffee shops together.

“It’s been fun to have those guys to work with,” Hamilton said. “I would say that unequivocally they would be involved with any future projects that we do.”

Hamilton and Billionis have been scouting real estate. They don’t know exactly when or where they want to open an additional shop, because they want to make sure location No. 1 gets off the ground successfully.

They do want to open a second location sometime in 2008, though. When and if that location opens, it may look very different than any other business in town. With The Coffee Ethic owners’ encouragement, Mitchell and Mardis are exploring the possibility of using old shipping containers to form an environmentally friendly building.

The 40-foot containers – the type used on ocean freighters – would be fashioned together and renovated with wiring, plumbing, flooring, windows, doors, stairs, seating areas, and could even include solar panels and rainwater collection.

The containers can be purchased for about $2,500 each. Plans would call for three containers conjoined for one coffeehouse. Renovations would cost about $80,000 and take about three months, Mitchell said.

“This stuff is being done all over the world,” Mitchell said of reusing shipping containers as structures.

“We’re not doing anything that is completely revolutionary, but it would be unique to this area.”[[In-content Ad]]