Hello and Season’s Greetings from Coal Region Canary’s Small Business Showcase! This Christmas, we invite you to join us in celebrating the heart and soul of our community – the local businesses that give our region its distinct flair.
We’ll be sharing captivating stories from these entrepreneurs and featuring their exclusive products, perfect for your holiday shopping needs. Let’s get into the festive spirit by supporting the pillars of our local economy! 🎄🎁
| Business Name | Pressed Coffee & Books |
|---|---|
| Business Owners | Abby Weaver and Bobby Weaver |
| Address | 123 Mahantongo Street, Pottsville, PA, 17901, US |
| Business Phone Number | +1 570-516-8250 |
| Website | pressedpottsville.com |
| Pressed Coffee & Books | |
| pressedcoffeeandbooks | |
| Other | Order Online |
| Hours of Operation | Monday - Saturday 7AM - 4PM, Sunday 8AM - 2PM |
| Description of Products and Services | Specialty coffee shop, crepiere, breakfast sandwich stop, and used bookstore |
| Year Established | December 2018 |
| Payment Methods Accepted | Cash, credit/debit card, Apple Pay, Gpay |
Q&A with Abby and Bobby Weaver, owners of Pressed Coffee & Books
Learn more about Pressed Coffee & Books …
What inspired you to start this business, and how did your personal journey lead you here?
“When we started the business with our partners, another couple who moved to Pottsville from Lancaster, we were just four young adults in our early twenties who really loved to coffee shop hop. Both couples had spent a lot of time traveling near and far, and the connecting thread was that no matter where we went, we would find the best coffee shops. Sitting in those spaces made us realize two things. One, that a coffee shop is often THE definable third space and community connection point for people who live there, and therefore often displays the people of the community and what they value. And two, that a coffee shop is something everyone seeks out in a city or town, and everyone enjoys. Lancaster has an incredibly diverse food and beverage culture, and we got to see some businesses down there (in particular, Passenger Coffee) create spaces like this and do it really well. We saw what was lacking in our county, and decided it was time to start bringing the same thing here. As people who grew up in Schuylkill County and Pottsville, it was a personal goal for my husband and I to create the cool community space that we didn’t not have when we were teenagers. We wanted kids and families to have a place to go, and we wanted people who visited Pottsville to leave with a positive perspective of our city.”
What unique products or services do you offer that can’t be found elsewhere in our community?
“Honestly, pretty much everything on our menu is very unique to us! Freshly roasted, high quality coffee is definitely our defining feature, and the offering we like to talk about the most. We believe you shouldn’t have to go far from home or order from a national brand to get a great cup of coffee that’s been carefully roasted and ethically sourced.”
How does your business contribute to the local community or participate in community events?
“In a pre-COVID world, Pressed hosted a lot of music and art focused events, all of which were entirely driven by staff members and their personal connections to the community, which was really special for us. Once COVID hit and we weren’t allowed to have indoor seating, a lot of that went away. Our team members changed, and the interests of the team changed over time with it. One way we’ve been able to stay connected to the arts community is by doing dine out type fundraisers for our local theatre groups. We will often do promo pictures that pair a character from an upcoming play with one of our drinks, and it’s a really fun way to showcase what’s happening at the Majestic Theater, the library, or Schuylkill Free Shakespeare productions. A lot of members involved in all of those groups have been consistent customers for us and we love being able to give back to them by collaborating in this way.
“We’ve also always made it a priority to show up for events happening in Downtown Pottsville, or do specials that promote them. For example, we released a special coffee roast and merch collab with a local artist for Lager Jogger weekend in April, which was super fun. We hosted a children’s book reading with three local authors this summer, and have been carrying their books ever since. Over the holidays, we’re focusing on Chriskindlemart at the Yuengling Mansion, and all of the shopping experiences that other local retailers are providing! This summer was the first time since COVID that we were able to bring back evening hang out events. ‘Pressed Social’ events hosted weekly themed nights (Barbie night, Taylor Swift night, and Tumblr era night were our top three favs) where people could come hang out and get access to a special menu, play board games, and just generally have a place to chill that wasn’t a bar. It worked really well for the summer, and is definitely something we’d love to bring back again.
“In September, a friend of a friend wanted to start a Pottsville chapter of the ‘Silent Book Club’, which is where people can show up and talk about whatever they’re currently reading, then take time to hang out and read their book in a room full of other readers, hopefully with a cup of something cozy to drink! Since then we’ve hosted two Silent Book Club meetings and it’s been a really fun way to engage with the community. We’ve been really excited to see this monthly event take off and be able to provide space for it!”
What do you want customers to experience when they interact with your business?
“Above all else, our goal has always been to provide community space for people. We want anyone to be able to come in, find a spot to sit, hang out, and find a moment of rest. Maybe you’re grabbing something to go, but knowing your friendly neighborhood barista made it with a little extra love reminds you to take a breath and enjoy your drink. Maybe you’re meeting a friend, and you lose track of time and spend a couple of hours catching up. Maybe your kid is running around looking at books while you get a quiet second to eat your bagel. Whatever state you are you in when you show up at Pressed, we hope you leave feeling a little more connected.”
What are your future plans or dreams for your business? Are there any upcoming projects or expansions you’re excited about?
“Expanding our roasting business is a big priority for us this year. We’d love to offer subscription services, bring back coffee cupping events (also something we did in our first year of business), and really get back to our roots as one of the county’s only specialty coffee shops. There’s so much education in the world of coffee that’s not just interesting, but vital to the sustainability of the industry. We’d love to bring together a local community of people who are interested in knowing where their coffee comes from and the nuances of what makes a fantastic cup.”
What advice would you give to someone wanting to start their own business in our community?
“Ask for input from other local entrepreneurs! If you’re serious about starting and running a business, you’ve got to be connected to people who ‘get it’. We designed our business plan based off another local restaurant’s, and we have passed our business plan information to many other aspiring owners to help them get started. Starting something is intimidating and it’s a lot of hard work, but if you’re passionate about what you want to do, you CAN build it and customers WILL come.”
What does your business offer that would make a great gift for the holiday season?
“Whole bean coffee! Locally written and illustrated children’s books! Katydid Hill tea (we have jars and their fabulous new tea sampler in stock)! And of course, gift cards for the people on your list who deserve a treat. :)”
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COAL REGION CANARY SUPPORTS SHOP LOCAL!
Make your business part of our Small Business Showcase. Click or tap here to find the form to submit your business for a profile just like this one!
Check out all the businesses who’ve participated in our Showcase so far …
| Hydrangea Cottage | Leiby's Carriage Service | The Maid's Quarters |
|---|---|---|
| Archangel Creations | Cards by Jessi | Pressed Coffee & Books |
| Sughr & Company | Lucy & Leigh |
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