Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Brichacek.
Hi Andrea, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We like coffee and started out by adding a small espresso bar to our existing antique shop in Washington County. Almost immediately, we had great feedback from our customers and decided to take our coffee on the road doing private pop-up events around the region. As demand increased, it became clear we needed a dedicated space, so we expanded the drink selections on our menu, found excellent vendors … and then opened our doors closer to Pittsburgh, just south of the city in Castle Shannon.
We curated the menu – featuring a wide variety of espresso, coffee-based drinks and cold brew made with locally roasted De Fer beans, along with teas, matcha, fruit smoothies and fresh pastries – and we were sure to pay close attention to local businesses and products that we have discovered during our travels.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Overall, we have had a great ride. There have certainly been issues, but that’s the life of running a small business. We’ve learned so much in the process. Finding expert craftsmen came first, followed by reliable vendors – and after we nailed those down, the rest was on our shoulders and we knew we could do it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Pour Johnny’s?
We are a take-out specialty coffee shop, but we offer so much more than that. We serve drinks for kids, 1919 root beer (a small business in Minnesota), Charleston Tea Garden teas (a small business outside of Charleston, SC), a wide variety of gifts from local and other small business vendors, a full-size pinball machine, and all of our baked goods are from local bakers who are great at what they do. We have excellent customers which makes the days fun and creates a welcoming atmosphere in the shop.
We are most proud of the community we have created. We know our customers by name and they now know one another by name as well. Whether it is your first time in or you’re a seasoned pro – you’ll always be greeted by a familiar, friendly face!
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
We’ve noticed a trend towards customers really starting to appreciate the coffee itself – moving away from the overly sweet drinks to actually savoring the flavor of our unique blended roasts. There is an art to creating specialty coffee, espresso, etc. and shops that understand and focus on the flavor are the ones who stand out in a saturated and competitive marketplace.
Pricing:
- $5-$10
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.pourjohnnys.com
- Instagram: @PourJohnnys
- Facebook: @PourJohnnys
