Sean Meenan: the man behind Habana Outpost and Cafe Habana
Going green is fast becoming the new “in” thing, and by that we do not only mean in terms of home decorating or any fashion trend that is rapidly leading the commercial market these days. Take the case of Habana Outpost, an eco-friendly restaurant owned by Sean Meenan—the same man who masterminded the opening of another environmentally-inspired café called the Café Habana.
Recently, Mr. Meenan showed off his festive-colored eco-eatery to a group of girls, ages 11-14, who were delighted to experience not just the Outpost’s delectable menu but also catching a glimpse of the rainwater-collection system that feeds the toilets, a recycling and composting station, wheat-board wall paneling and corn-based plastic cups, and a bicycle-powered blender. Not only that, the amazing environmentalist also showcased the $40,000 solar panels installed in the restaurant and funneling electricity to the Outpost’s nearby buildings. According to Mr. Meenan, he was inspired by the early memory of Ronald Reagan who ordered the removal of the solar panels installed by Jimmy Carter in the White House. “It just seemed to me God gave us the sun, it’s there, we’re not doing anything bad by putting up some solar panels, right?” Mr. Meenan said. “They even kind of look cool.”
A self-confessed rebellious during his younger years, Mr. Meenan did not have a good affinity for making the right choices and this somehow led him to live with two junkies in the East Village and ran off with his Columbia University scholarship money and a girl from Berlin during his late teens. But with the ample guidance of his mentors and surrogate parents, he managed to get back on the right track and was inspired to do more good in his life and for the environment.
Aside from giving the youths of Elizabeth Street their first job in the café, Mr. Meenan continues to promote environmental awareness among kids and adults alike by offering weekend workshops for children, playing host to student tours, and participates in speaking engagements about sustainability concepts.
