For Commonplace Coffee’s Pittsburgh locations, an uncommon reopening amid coronavirus

Joanne Klimovich Harrop | Wednesday, April 22, 2020 7:52 a.m.

Courtesy of Anita Harnish

Commonplace Coffee, located in the Mexican War Streets on Pittsburgh’s North Side, re-opened Tuesday, April 21, by selling drinks and food through a pick-up window.

The days of lingering over a cup of java inside Commonplace Coffee are gone, at least for the near future. But the ownership has adjusted its operations, showing how retail businesses are adapting for for the covid-19 economy of social distancing.

“We very much wish it was still a place for everyone to come and hang out for as long as they wanted to,” said Robert Chaffin, director of operations for Commonplace, founded in Indiana, Pa. “Commonplace Coffee was built on being part of the community, where people enjoyed a cup of coffee and some good conversation. But things are little different now because of covid-19, and we have to do our part to keep everyone safe.”

It took a few weeks to figure out the way to do that properly. Commonplace Coffee took a hiatus before reopening two of its seven locations on Tuesday – Squirrel Hill and the Mexican War Streets in Pittsburgh’s North Side.

Chaffin said that during the closure, they discussed how to operate in this time of social distancing, ramping up of cleaning procedures to protect the employees as well as the customers.

In addition to thorough disinfecting, they’ve incorporated online ordering, pick-up windows as well as offering more than coffee. They sell muffins and bread made fresh in their bakery in Indiana, Pa. as well as flour, rice, and oats from Anson Mills in South Carolina. They also have soup from Blue Sparrow food truck and are in contact with some local food vendors to expand other menu items.

Chaffin said the first day went well.

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Guests can prepay if they like and come in and pick up their order through a window at the Mexican War Streets location.

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“They can have as minimal contact as they want,” Chaffin said. “We are making it work. It’s a new environment, a different atmosphere. The coffee shop experience has changed … for now. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.”

Hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.