Mudhouse opens south-side location

The longtime center city Springfield coffeehouse expanded Jan. 8 into The Library Center, 4653 S. Campbell Ave. Springfield-Greene County Library District had operated Café 641 for two years in that space, but after manager Rose Habermehl left to pursue other interests, library officials decided to farm out the food and beverage services. For about five years prior to Café 641, Churchill Coffee Co. operated from The Library Center.

Habermehl plans to open Rose’s Courthouse Café in March inside the Springfield-Greene County Courthouse.

Annie Busch, library district executive director, said five companies were vying to fill the void at The Library Center, but Mudhouse won out because, “they have name recognition, and they have experience in the market.”

Mudhouse owners Brian King, Rob Weislocher and Rick Andrews signed a lease Dec. 12 for the 1,200-square-foot space. Busch said Mudhouse pays $150 per month for the first year, and the second year will change to a negotiable percentage of gross sales.

“We just wanted them to get their feet wet,” Busch said.

Weislocher said the transition went smoothly, with the trio only bringing in an extra freezer and blender. Otherwise, they’re just using the library’s furniture and equipment until new items arrive.

Weislocher said he and his business partners had casually discussed opening a new location for a couple of years.

“We weren’t really interested in opening a location in a strip mall or that type of setting,” he said. “It’s been a great move for us so far. You just couldn’t ask for a better situation.”

Mudhouse opened as one of the city’s first specialty coffee shops in 1998 at 323 South Ave. Five years later, its owners opened cocktail bar Mudlounge at 321 E. Walnut St.

Mudhouse also operated a location at 518 E. Central St., near Drury University, from 2004–2005, but closed that outlet primarily due to a lack of parking, Weislocher said.

In 2005, Mudhouse began selling wholesale products to Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship at Missouri State University. However, Chi Alpha’s coffee shop/lounge closed in 2007 after the university bought the fellowship’s building at 680 S. Florence Ave.

A coffeehouse connection to the library has become a common scenario in recent years, because Busch said library patrons enjoy easy access to food and drinks.

Panera Bread Bakery Café has operated for four years from The Library Station, 2535 N. Kansas Expressway, and The Coffee Ethic opened Dec. 7 in the Kresge building on Park Central Square, where a library branch will open in March.

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