Sunset Hills will once again have its own coffee shop and bakery. The Baked Bean is expected to open this July at 380 Broadmoor Avenue.
Many longtime residents of Mt. Lebanon fondly remember the former occupant of the address, Mojoe Coffee House, which closed in 2009. The Baked Bean will be a place for kids and parents to gather before and after school at nearby Howe Elementary.
“We heard the call from the neighborhood: ‘We want a coffee shop,’” said co-owner Ali Catto.
Customers can expect traditional drinks, such as drip coffee, cappuccinos and Americanos, plus specialty lattes. Cupcakes, drop cookies, celebration cakes, macarons, croissants and other fresh bakery will be available. The drink and food menus will change frequently, so customers can expect something new each time they visit.
The Baked Bean is a collaborative project of Catto, Carnegie Drive, and Hannah Olsen, who lives in Economy but describes herself as a “South Hills girl at heart.” The women met through networking and hoped to open a coffee and bakery business together. After searching off and on for a few years, a leasing agent approached them about the open space on Broadmoor Avenue, which Olsen said turned out to be the perfect spot.
Catto is the owner of BREW3D, a mobile coffee and baked goods trailer based in Mt. Lebanon. (Look for that story in our May magazine.) Olsen sells authentic macarons from her own business, Aycho Melange, and owns Batches Bakehouse, a shared kitchen space for small businesses in Arlington.
Catto and Olsen said The Baked Bean will not only fill the caffeine void in Sunset Hills but will offer a unique experience compared to other shops in the area.
“The vibe we’re going for is very uniformed and themed, with theme days,” said Catto.
Olsen continued, “A lot of coffee shops are very cozy with warm light. We’re trying to take a more modern approach to the shop and its offerings.” The store will be bright, colorful and kid-friendly, she added.
Customers will find two connected counters, one for pastries and one for coffee. There will be seating in the main area, a smaller auxiliary room, the patio and potentially in the backyard.
“We have endless opportunities with this outdoor space,” said Catto.
“I could see people having little picnics on the lawn. It’s nice that we don’t have buildings every six inches, with lots of green space,” added Olsen.
On-street parking is free and Catto hopes to see many customers walking to the store from the neighborhood.
The Baked Bean plans to be open seven days a week, with hours TBD. Follow them on Instagram @the.baked.bean.pgh [1] and Facebook [2] for updates.