DINING FEATURE RadixHouse Co ee Shop Truck provides co ee, CBD and community L ocated in the Westgate Lanes bowling alley parking lot, the Radix House Co ee Shop “I thought, ‘co ee and CBD—those markets were pretty recession-resis- tant,’” Pilney said. “That told me that I have a good chance to stay in front of people.” BY GLORIE MARTINEZ
trailer o ers customers co ees, teas and locally sourced CBD products. Everything from the colorful string lights to the hand-painted mural with iconic Austin images hidden inside of it was designed, according to founder Roger Pilney, “to make you feel good.” Pilney, a South Austin native, struggled for decades with sub- stance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. He nally found an e ective treatment in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing therapy, which combines a physical and emotional approach to resolving a patient’s trauma. This breakthrough introduced Pilney to another tool—cannabidiol, or CBD, a non-psychoactive chemical derived from hemp plants. Pilney said it helped him process traumatic memories in therapy. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Pilney recognized the stress and fear his community was experiencing all too well. “I’m watching the news, and I saw this nurse, and she takes her mask o —she’s got deep lines in her face,” Pilney said. “But in her eyes, I saw that look of despair that I felt when I wasn’t getting help.” At a time when many businesses were struggling or forced to close, Pilney began brainstorming an idea that would allow him to o er stress relief and a sense of connectedness to his struggling community.
Pilney brought on his high school friend Gabriel Medel as a business partner. Together, they opened the rst Radix House Co ee Shop location in October 2020. Since then, Pilney and Medel have remained focused on their mission to support their community. Every cardboard drink sleeve at Radix House is hand-stamped with the website of the American Association for Suicide Prevention, a nonpro t partner that connects people struggling with PTSD and other mental health issues to resources in their area. The business helped recruit volunteers for a University of Texas study on CBD and its e ects on anxiety. The owners also concoct special drinks that raise money for charities when purchased, such as The Rudolph—a co ee drink topped with whipped cream and a mara- schino cherry—for Austin Pets Alive. Radix House recently opened a second location at 1606 E. Sixth St. in East Austin. Two more are planned near North and South Lamar Boulevard. In the future, Pilney said he wants to sell his co ee and CBD products wholesale and use the funds to open a treatment center for survivors of PTSD. “I want to get out there and tell people about our why,” Pilney said. “Especially because all of us have been impacted by mental health.”
Founder Roger Pilney stands in front of the original Radix House location. (Photos by Glorie Martinez/Community Impact Newspaper)
The co ee sleeves feature the American Association of Suicide Prevention’s website.
The Radix House motto is “peace, love and co ee.”
WHAT’S ON THEMENU?
Owner Roger Pilney said all of his products are aimed to “make you feel good.”
COFFEE Lattes, machiattos, cappucinos, a ogatos
TEAS Tea lattes, iced teas
CBD PRODUCTS Tinctures, gummies, cookies, dog treats
RadixHouse Co ee Shop 2701 W. William Cannon Drive, Austin 737-256-9959 www.radixhouse.com Hours: Mon.-Sun. 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
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We provide patient-focused care aimed at reducing your pain and helping you to lead a healthy and active life.
TRAVIS COUNTY WANTS TO DO BUSINESS WITH YOU Travis County Purchasing Office is located at 700 Lavaca Street Suite 800 Austin, Texas 78701 Phone: 512 854-9700
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SOUTHWEST AUSTIN DRIPPING SPRINGS EDITION • MARCH 2022
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