Green-Minded Coffee & Wine House Opening in St. Louis

The Map Room in the historic Benton Park neighborhood in St. Louis, Mo., is about to open. There are 7 days, 0 hours, 11 minutes, 24 — no, wait: 23…13…8… Well, the seconds keep ticking us closer to the grand opening, as the countdown clock on The Map Room’s Web site proudly — and funly — indicates.

The grand day begins at 7 a.m. on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day. The address is: 1901 Withnell (at Lemp).

The countdown clock tells me there’s an I-can’t-wait atmosphere over there. That tells me to expect a smile when I walk in the door. And everything I’ve read so far on the Map Room’s site — and via email exchange with one of the inspirations energizing the place, Michele Floyd — tells me I can probably believe a number of the thoughts already put out on the coffee & wine house’s site:

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Coffee houses were meant to be gathering places. Comfortable, familiar, relaxed places where you could enjoy the company of others. Our mission is to serve great product whether it’s a cup of coffee or a delicious glass of wine. Our goal is to provide a friend operated business. A familiar place where one hangs their hat and is greeted with warmhearted service. Surrounded in a quaint, homemade atmosphere that instantly conjures nostalgic emotions of bygone eras and mystic far off places. We take pride in our shop and hope to provide our patrons with this unique and intimate experience.

Now to one of the best parts… The Map Room is proud to be green-forward. Very proud, and leaning quite forward.

Michele tells me that the “green mission” posted on the Map Room’s Web site is really just a summary of how green they are and how green they aim to be. But I’m lovin’ the start, from the first words of the Map Room’s mission description: “We are Bright Green.   We see protecting the environment as a personal responsibility.”

Here’s more of that mission statement; I have added bold for emphasis to phrases that particularly warm my also green — and greening — heart:

When you visit our shop you can clearly see how we have implemented “Reduce – Recycle – Reuse” in every detail of our business.  Even our courtyard is an organic garden.   Our supplies are purchased in St. Louis from locally manufactured, small, family owned, “mom & pop” type businesses.  We support our local economy and the local small businesses that make up St. Louis.  Obviously, coffee is not grown in St. Louis, but 100% of our beans are USDA Organic, Fair Trade and Rain Forest Alliance Certified and our grounds are composted.    We search for the best “green supplies” such as  green packaging/bulk requirement,  biodegradable, recycled post consumer products, eco-friendly goods, energy efficient, energy star and locally manufactured products.  We believe radical changes need to be made in every facet of society in order to make our environment sustainable. “Green is definitely the new black,” it’s a lifestyle choice that we work and live by and will continue to improve upon.

I heart green. I heart coffee. I heart local, getting to live within walks and bike rides of the things I care to do. I’m counting down until The Map Room opens its doors to new friends.

Artwork: Michele Floyd, The Map Room

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