The MudPenny Story: How Honestly Good Took Root
How We Came to Be
2012
Matthew Fuller bought a coffee cart & set up shop in the Waters Building
2013
Moved to Forest Hills, 1st floor of a medical building
2013
Most tenants moved out of the building, so we started catering
2014 - 2016
CATERING. Lots & lots of catering.
2016
Rebranded to Mudpenny
2017
Still catering…
Dec 2018
Opened downtown Grand Rapids store in Roosevelt Park
2019
Started roasting our own coffee
Mar 2020
Scheduled a grand opening party… COVID-19 happened… we closed temporarily & reinvented our business model
May 2020
Grand opening of Ada location during quarantine
Why Honestly Good Guides Everything We Do
Every brand has a beginning; ours starts with a simple promise to be honestly good. That means doing what’s right even when no one’s looking—serving thoughtfully crafted food and coffee, being up-front about what goes into every cup and plate, and welcoming people the way we’d host them at home. If you’re new here, start with our Coffee page to see how the story comes to life in each roast and cup: explore our coffee.
Honesty shows up in the details: how we choose ingredients, what we make in-house, and how we train our teams to care about the little things. It’s a daily practice, not a tagline.
What Honestly Good looks like day to day
- Clear sourcing and standards you can understand
- Craft and care in preparation, not shortcuts
- A hospitality-first mindset across our restaurants
| Value | What it means at MudPenny |
|---|---|
| honestly good | A promise to be transparent and obsess the details |
| ethically sourced coffee | Partnerships that respect growers and quality |
| house-made preparations | From the kitchen to the bar, made by our teams |
| local ingredients | Seasonal, regional, and thoughtfully selected |
| house-made syrups | Flavor without shortcuts or mystery additives |
Sourcing Standards: Ethically Sourced Coffee
Great coffee begins long before it lands in your cup. Our commitment to ethically sourced coffee guides how we build relationships and evaluate quality. We look for traceability, sustainable practices, and partners who share our values. If you’d like the latest on harvests, partnerships, and features, check our news and updates.
From‑Scratch Kitchen: House‑Made Preparations
House-made preparations are our baseline, not a special occasion. From batters and dressings to condiments and toppings, making things ourselves helps us deliver freshness, control allergens more thoughtfully, and dial in flavors with intention. It’s how we keep quality consistent while still letting each location show its personality.
When you sit down at one of our tables, you’ll taste that care across brunch and dinner. Planning a visit? See where to start on our restaurants overview.
Local Ingredients, Seasonal Menus
We believe food tastes better when it’s connected to a place. Sourcing local ingredients where possible supports regional growers and keeps our menus responsive to the seasons. It also reduces unnecessary miles and helps us celebrate what’s fresh right now.
Local doesn’t mean limiting—our teams build menus that balance comfort and creativity, all anchored in that honestly good mindset.
Syrups and Details: Our House‑Made Syrups
The small things matter. Our bar teams craft house-made syrups to complement espresso, teas, and signature drinks without relying on shortcuts. Building syrups ourselves lets us fine-tune sweetness and showcase real flavors—so what you taste is intentional and balanced.
Curious how this translates into your daily cup? Take a stroll through the story behind our beans and brews on the Coffee page.
Coffee, Community, and Craft
MudPenny is both a hospitality company and a coffee brand. We see each café, bar station, and dining room as a place to connect over something crafted with care. From morning coffee runs to weekend gatherings, we aim to make every experience welcoming and thoughtfully paced.
If you’re planning a group visit or exploring events, our team would love to host you in one of our spaces. You can always reach out on our contact page, and for quick answers visit the FAQ hub.
FAQs
What does Honestly Good mean?
It’s our everyday standard: be transparent, choose quality, and sweat the details—from sourcing to service—so every experience feels considered and genuinely welcoming.
What makes MudPenny different?
A focus on craft without pretense. We prioritize ethically sourced coffee, house-made preparations, and local ingredients to deliver flavor with intention across brunch and dinner.
What do you mean by house-made?
We prepare key components in our own kitchens and bars—batters, dressings, condiments, and house-made syrups—so we can control freshness and balance flavor.
How do you source ingredients?
We seek partners who align with our values, emphasize traceability, and help us feature local ingredients where possible. For updates on partnerships and features, check our News.
Why does the brand sound the way it does?
Because clear language is part of being honestly good. We keep our voice simple, specific, and human—focused on what you’ll taste and how you’ll feel when you visit.
Where can I learn more about your coffee?
Start with our Coffee page for the story behind our sourcing approach and offerings, or explore our FAQ for quick answers.
Still have questions?
If you have other questions that weren’t answered here, feel free to send us a message. We’re happy to assist you and provide the information you need.
What's Next
- Explore the values behind our coffee: visit the Coffee page
- Ready to plan brunch or dinner? See our restaurants overview
- Want to talk partnerships or community ideas? Reach out on Contact
If you’re brand-new to MudPenny, you can also get a feel for the entire site from the home page.
