diff --git a/examples/mesh/bc_demo.py b/examples/mesh/bc_demo.py
index 6b198fd3b..3521d7fee 100644
--- a/examples/mesh/bc_demo.py
+++ b/examples/mesh/bc_demo.py
@@ -1,10 +1,9 @@
 # test the boundary fill routine
 
 
-import numpy as np
-
 import mesh.boundary as bnd
 import mesh.patch
+import numpy as np
 
 
 def doit():
diff --git a/pyro/mesh/patch.py b/pyro/mesh/patch.py
index f31dc13c2..1b5d6997b 100644
--- a/pyro/mesh/patch.py
+++ b/pyro/mesh/patch.py
@@ -755,6 +755,11 @@ def write_data(self, f):
         ggrid.attrs["ymin"] = self.grid.ymin
         ggrid.attrs["ymax"] = self.grid.ymax
 
+        try:
+            ggrid.attrs["coord_type"] = self.grid.coord_type
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass
+
         # data
         gstate = f.create_group("state")
 
diff --git a/pyro/util/io_pyro.py b/pyro/util/io_pyro.py
index a75a245e5..8188b53b3 100644
--- a/pyro/util/io_pyro.py
+++ b/pyro/util/io_pyro.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 import h5py
 
 import pyro.mesh.boundary as bnd
-from pyro.mesh.patch import CellCenterData2d, Grid2d
+from pyro.mesh.patch import Cartesian2d, CellCenterData2d, SphericalPolar
 from pyro.particles import particles
 
 
@@ -48,9 +48,19 @@ def read(filename):
         # read in the grid info and create our grid
         grid = f["grid"].attrs
 
-        myg = Grid2d(grid["nx"], grid["ny"], ng=grid["ng"],
-                     xmin=grid["xmin"], xmax=grid["xmax"],
-                     ymin=grid["ymin"], ymax=grid["ymax"])
+        try:
+            coord_type = grid["coord_type"]
+        except KeyError:
+            coord_type = 0
+
+        if coord_type == 1:
+            grid_class = SphericalPolar
+        else:
+            grid_class = Cartesian2d
+
+        myg = grid_class(grid["nx"], grid["ny"], ng=grid["ng"],
+                         xmin=grid["xmin"], xmax=grid["xmax"],
+                         ymin=grid["ymin"], ymax=grid["ymax"])
 
         # sometimes problems define custom BCs -- at the moment, we
         # are going to assume that these always map to BC.user.  We