Aspinwall Beans 'N' Cream stands out with more than just coffee

This coffee shop brews up the cool factor.

Aspinwall Beans ‘N’ Cream, known as ABC by the locals, serves up coffee, specialty drinks and homemade breakfast and lunch items amid 1960s and ’70s pop/rock memorabilia.

“The decor isn’t the usual coffee shop vibe,” said co-owner Pete Sanida of Squirrel Hill. “I’m told the original owner was a retired teacher with a hippie vibe. I liked it so much I didn’t change a thing.”

ABC is housed in a historic 1928 building along Brilliant Avenue that originally was called the Carvelli Building, an ice cream shop.

Sanida took over ABC last July.

He previously founded Cool Beans Coffee in 1990, located in the Golden Triangle, later opening 10 additional ice cream and coffee (hence the cool beans moniker) themed kiosks and shops in Downtown Pittsburgh — operating them for 27 years.

“The model is very familiar to me. It wasn’t as daunting as it would have been with someone with little or no experience,” Sanida said.

Wall art abounds featuring Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Beatles, Mick Jagger and electric guitars hanging next to colorful murals — there’s plenty of vintage visual stimulation here.

Look for the needlepoint burlap sack featuring an image of Annie Lennox on the wall, made by a loyal customer.

“I want my customers to feel like our attention is on them,” Sanida said. “We probably know 90% of our customers by their first name.”

Sanida gets his coffee from Nicholas Coffee Roasters in Market Square.

“They have over 100 years experience importing and roasting coffees from all around the world,” Sanida said.

Breakfast and lunch menu items include authentic New York water bagels (plain, wheat, everything and cinnamon raisin), wraps (plain, wheat and spinach) and specialty bagels such as the Elvis Bagel ($4.07) featuring peanut butter and banana and classic deli sandwiches such as tuna salad, turkey, BLT or veggie made on a bagel or wrap.

Fancy coffee drinks?

ABC has them all — lattes, mochas and frappes — with seasonally specialty drinks offered.

Ice cream from Dave & Andy’s in Oakland offer a dessert option in addition to baked treats like scones, biscotti, pound cake and muffins.

During nice weather, an outdoor patio awaits patrons, often featuring live acoustic music.

The priciest item — a sandwich — will set you back $6.08.

Aspinwall native Laura Powers-Chiesa, 25, has been a regular at ABC since she was 12.

“I was anxious that ABC might change (with new ownership) but Pete kept it the same and he is extremely attentive to the customer’s needs,” Powers-Chiesa said.

For Sanida, the little borough of Aspinwall has been a welcoming one.

“The customers have been accepting and gracious and Aspinwall is a great community. I love it here,” Sanida said.