Behind the Mules

Common Ground Coffee and Market has enjoyed amazing (and relatively uncommon) early success in their Boise retail coffee shop. This is all the more impressive because of the brutal economics involved in selling coffee. The keys to their success seem to be many, not least of which is the huge amount of prep work done by founders Sarah Keck and Laurie Pearman in identifying an underserved neighborhood with a need, doggedly pursuing the perfect location, validating their concept time and again (and far in advance) with future customers, and then getting those customers to invest in the shop with their own time, creativity, and money. Once opened, Common Ground focussed on building a truly collaborative work culture in an industry where employee tenure can be short. It's working! There are lessons here for anyone operating or hoping to operate a small business that intends to serve customers or for the curious minded who just like to "look under the hood" and see the unseen things behind daily life. Getting your cup of coffee at the corner shop may be a simple and common act; the large gambles and challenges faced by the shop's owners are likely neither simpler nor common.

In 2014, Collin Rudeen founded Boise Brewing alongside head brewer, Lance Chavez. They knew how to make great beer; they had a good plan; but they had a problem: they didn't have any money. Listen to how Collin rallied the community in a creative and very tangible way to get his now iconic and award winning brewery off the ground and how the experience has impacted both him and his family.

Why are you paying so much at the grocery store? You'll hear about some of the friction that adds cost to your grocery bill and makes it difficult for small businesses to provide you high quality local foods as we talk with team members from Café Mulé coffee. You'll also likely learn a thing or two you didn't know about the business of roasting coffee. Oh... and there's a mule story that was real funny... but only after the fact.

In 2016, Café Mulé Coffee founder and military veteran Matt Bishop had a vision of bringing people in his community together through a trailside coffee service in the Boise Foothills. Though this trail service and the accidental coffee company that was created from it are steadfastly committed to community, conservation, trails, (and mules); the journey to share coffee on the trails was fraught with surprising challenges and frustrating setbacks. This is the untold story of Matt's inspiration and the determination to overcome Café Mulé Coffee's early challenges. Idaho Statesman Article: "A Man, His Mule and a Dream of Trailside Coffee in the Boise Foothills" by Chad Cripe Ridge to Rivers Meeting Notes from 4 Feb. 2016 https://www.ridgetorivers.org/media/1116/r2r_minutes_020416.pdf KTVB7: "Man and His Mule Serve Coffee in the Boise Foothills" https://www.ktvb.com/article/life/man-and-his-mule-serve-coffee-in-boise-foothills/277-281773784