Number Three

Our third location is officially in the works. We have a lease, and were hoping to make the big announcement after the G20 but it feels good to write this post. It’s been a long time coming. There is a lot of work to be done and a lot to look forward to.

Back in March of 2008, Alexis and I submitted an unsolicited proposal to be considered as a potential tenant for a retail location in the new Three PNC Plaza. The building was under construction and we thought “what could it hurt?”. Ever since we started our business back in early 2006, we felt that even though Pittsburgh already had numerous “coffee shops”, there was an opportunity for a small, quality focused, local business to succeed and thrive downtown.

Apparently we were a little early, as it wasn’t until May of this year (14 months later) that we were informed our proposal was indeed selected. From what we understand there were at least a dozen interested parties, including some national names (we don’t know specifically which other businesses were considered). When we made our pitch for the space, we pitched it based on how we perceive our business. We realize we’re not everyone’s coffee place. What I mean by that is we focus on very pure and traditional style drinks that taste like coffee, but we’re a place that anyone could enjoy. We do not specialize in large and/or sweet drinks. We’re not a restaurant nor do I consider us a cafe. We’re a coffee and tea BAR. That’s what we do, that’s what we want to be known for, and so we felt that if we weren’t selected we would be at peace with the decision, as perhaps the decision makers wouldn’t understand our business. It is just coffee, right?

Thankfully and luckily for us, the decision makers in the process support the things that we try to represent- a home grown business with a commitment to quality ingredients (direct trade coffees, organic teas, local milk, etc) and service, with an emphasis on sustainable and environmental practices. So yes, in a nutshell we serve coffee, tea, and a simple selection of food items- but as readers of this blog you know how much detail and hard work goes into creating that kind of simplicity.

So needless to say it really is very special for a small business like 21st Street to open in this beautiful new building in a rapidly renewing downtown. It’s a high profile location with lots of foot traffic. The building houses a law firm, a bank, bank offices, a four star hotel, a wine bar, a restaurant, and luxury condos. Across the street the back side of market square is shaping up with retail and affordable apartments in newly restored historic buildings. It’s not only close to market square, but it’s also pretty close to the cultural district. It’s more or less smack in the middle of the rebirth of downtown Pittsburgh. It has the potential to attract professionals, residents, tourists or more generically just about anyone that lives or works downtown. We’re excited about this opportunity to reach such a diverse audience, because Pittsburghers can appreciate our craft just as much as customers in Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago enjoy some of the finest coffee bars in the country.

There will be more details to follow, and I hope to get some photos to share with you all. Thanks again to our great staff and our great customers that have helped us reach this milestone. We are grateful, humbled, and ready to do some good things.