Nearly a year after first announcing their plans, owners of The Baked Bean, located at 380 Broadmoor Ave., are still brewing with excitement despite a less-than-ideal snowstorm during their opening week.
“It was the cherry on top of our very long and arduous process of getting open,” co-owner Hannah Olsen said. “When we chose our opening date, that was about five weeks ahead of time, and we had no idea what it was going to look like at the end of January.”
While the snow didn’t start until the night after their first day on Saturday, Jan. 24, around 11 inches fell, and days of freezing temperatures led to school delays and treacherous conditions.
That didn’t stop loyal customers who eagerly awaited the arrival of the coffee shop and bakery.
“I think they would have dug themselves a tunnel if they had to,” Olsen said. “Residents of Sunset Hills showed up all week. We had consistent foot traffic Tuesday through Friday.”
“‘Finally,’ was the consensus. And we agree,” co-owner Ali Catto said.
Olsen and Catto, of Carnegie Drive, first met in 2020 through a networking group for small-business owners and professionals. The pair kept in contact over the years as Olsen continued to sell her French macarons through her business, Aycho Melange. She also owns a shared kitchen space for small businesses called Batches Bakehouse.
That kitchen space is where the two reconnected, as Catto utilized the space to help run her coffee trailer, BREW3D. When the opportunity arose to open a coffee shop and bakery in Sunset Hills, the pair felt growing enthusiasm for the venture, one that helped Catto return to her roots.
“My background is actually in patisserie,” Catto said. “That’s what I got my degree in.”
Those pastries continue to pleasantly surprise customers, who can walk in to find an 8-foot pastry counter showcasing expansive confectionery offerings that the owners describe as “intentional and fun.”
Their take on the well-known Kaufmann’s thumbprint cookie is garnering a lot of attention, bringing in customers from beyond Mt. Lebanon, and social media food influencers are abuzz with reviews.
“Our prep baker, Presley Schumacher, has been knocking them out for weeks,” Olsen said. “We sold more than 100 in less than 48 hours.”
“But it’s also the Pop-Tarts and Ali’s gourmet cookies that fly off the shelves. The good thing is, if you come in for something and it’s sold out, you’ll find between three and five other items that are exciting to you,” Olsen said.
Manager Cheryl Allan is behind the register and building customers’ party orders. Her daughter lives just a few minutes from the shop in Mt. Lebanon.
Patrons say baristas Antonio, Alex and Hannah are already calling them by name and remembering their drink orders, making them feel like regulars.
Signature drinks include themed lattes such as the Dirty Bird, inspired by an iconic almond torte, and the Yinzer, a twist on strawberry Jell-O pretzel salad. The shop also serves its own drip coffee blend, curated with the help of Nicholas Coffee & Tea Co.
As the owners and community wait for the snow to melt, they have their sights set on spring plans.
“We have a front patio. We purchased some four-seater tables, a glider, a standing table and access to the whole lawn space,” Catto said. “There’s so much opportunity for kids to have fun. There’s no limit on what we can do outside. We just want to offer a neighborly vibe.”
The hope is to continue catering to families and even students in the neighborhood. The women plan to bring in some healthy lunch-type options for students at nearby Howe Elementary School who may be able to walk over on their lunch break.
“A safe spot for them to dip in and get something fun. To practice responsibility and money handling, those kinds of skills,” Olsen said.
The shop’s Instagram page, which has about 3,000 followers, encourages customers to keep an eye on the account for flavor updates and themed events.
“In March, there are a few anniversaries coming up that people our age are nostalgic about. With it being Women’s History Month, we plan to do something fun with a very iconic individual from our childhood,” Olsen said.
And just as their first earned dollar is now framed on the wall, the Blue Devil signature latte will be a mainstay on the menu — a nod to the Mt. Lebanon community that showed up from day one.
