Catholic Founders #37 Over a Dozen Conversions Because of This Coffee Shop | Mallory Root (Roots Brew Shop)
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Hey y’all — welcome back to another episode of the Catholic Founders podcast! Today’s episode will not disappoint.
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In Today’s Issue:
* Intro to the Guest and Topic
* Core Takeaway
* Episode References
* Select Quotes
* Key Moments
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Today’s Topic & Guest:
* Mallory Root | Roots Brew Shop & The Cottage on Turner
* Following God’s lead, Mallory Root moved to Grand Rapids to open Roots Brew Shop, a coffeehouse built on faith, community, and authentic human connection. Guided by her faith in God, she embraced the challenges of entrepreneurship as an act of stewardship, trusting that her role was to build with God. Since opening in 2016, Roots has become a warm, welcoming space where strangers become friends and people encounter Christ through everyday conversation and genuine hospitality.
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Core Lesson:
We need to make the transactional relational.
Mallory’s whole approach to business can be summed up in one line.
And honestly, I love that.
It’s the heartbeat of what makes her business, Roots Brew Shop, special. Every customer interaction, every cup of coffee, every conversation is a chance to actually see the person in front of you. Mallory’s not running a shop just to sell coffee, but instead she’s building relationships, restoring what’s been lost in a world that moves too fast and connects too little. It has become a place that invites people back to God through their experience and eventually brings dozens of conversions.
In the same way, we are invited to design our products and experiences to have something special. Where the simple moments and typical transactions are transformed into encounters with Christ.
God Bless & Happy Building!
~Silas Mähner
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Key Episode References:
* Rerum Novarum in 2025: Applying it to Your Business
* Servant of God, Father Walter Cizek
Select Quotes:
“Our mission is to make the transactional relational.”
“If I have a relationship with the Lord, everything should exude from that.”
“We should be fully integrated in all the things we do.”
“Beauty disarms. When people walk into Roots, they encounter goodness and truth through beauty.”
“All that we own is for the common good, and we are stewards of that.”
“If we are not building one another in virtue and we’re not building in virtue, what is the purpose of our labor?”
“Hold it all loosely, and something that is good to foster is that spirit of detachment (detachment that it isn’t mine). Steward what God gives you today, and be ready to let it go tomorrow.”
“If you’re serious about leadership, you have to be rightly ordered, and that means making time for God.”
Key Moments: (outline)
* 02:46 Introduction
* 04:27 Faith as a Rubric for Business
* Mallory discusses how her faith permeates every aspect of running her coffee shop, serving as the guiding principle for all decisions
* 10:01 Subtle Evangelization Through Business
* Learn about Roots Brew Shop’s unique approach to evangelization
* 13:24 Underutilized Methods of Evangelization
* The importance of responding to the dignity of the human person and the dignity of work, especially when interacting with diverse guests, including those experiencing homelessness.
* 15:19 Training Staff in Virtue and Dignity
* Discover how Roots Brew Shop trains its employees through monthly sessions on the dignity of the human person and the dignity of work
* 19:08 Low Employee Turnover and Formation
* Mallory shares how their focus on building relationships and investing in employee formation leads to remarkably low turnover
* 25:23 Maintaining a Spirit of Detachment and Stewardship:
* Mallory views her business as a gift from God to be stewarded
* 30:57 Engaging and Serving the Community
* Mallory discusses how Roots Brew Shop interacts with its community
* 35:18 The Impact of Daily Mass for Entrepreneurs
* The spiritual benefits and the importance of prioritizing one’s relationship with God.
* 38:41 Spiritual Growth Through Entrepreneurship
* Mallory reflects on how her entrepreneurial journey has deepened her trust in God, taught her to say “yes” more readily, and provided numerous opportunities to love her neighbor with compassion.
* 43:09 Mallory’s Founding Journey
* Mallory recounts her path from an art major to a coffee shop owner, including her discernment process, the influence of her family, and the two-year journey to opening Roots Brew Shop
* 49:48 Conclusion
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