Mud and Char | Our Story
A family café in Downers Grove
We opened Mud & Char, Caffeine & Fare in 2018, and we're family owned and operated. Our family has been part of the Downers Grove community for over sixty years.
Sara's path
Sara was born in Lebanon, and her family moved to Canada before settling in the U.S. Seattle's coffeehouses and communal tables won her over, and after managing a market and deli in Chicago she opened Mud & Char.
Family behind the counter
Sara's brother-in-law helps with operations, and you'll find him greeting guests. More family handle the finances and admin behind the scenes, alongside a team of leaders we're lucky to have.
Made fresh to order
From the start, Sara's goal was to give people exactly what they want. That's why everything's built your way, and why our smoothies are made with real ingredients and no syrups.