Curbside Coffeehouse in Blawnox combines perk with fresh foods
Curbside Coffeehouse owner Kylee Witchey may be perkier than the coffee she brews at her popular Blawnox eatery.
Witchey, 32, originally from Lower Burrell, took over an existing Curbside in 2008, a mere seven days after graduating from Duquesne University.
“I had no idea what I was getting into,” Witchey says.
She renovated Curbside — slowly adding more food options and, later, expanding to accommodate her bustling catering offerings. She now serves hundreds of customers daily.
Witchey is all hands-on hustle at Curbside — cooking, baking, socializing and serving up a positive and warm welcome to her customers.
An accomplished marathon runner, she conquered the Boston Marathon five times, Witchey exudes a high energy uber-friendly vibe that resonates throughout Curbside.
“Curbside is a part of me. It’s just what I wake up and do. It truly doesn’t feel like work. I love it — the people, my co-workers (she employs nine) and I love making food.”
With no formal culinary training, Witchey reinvented the regular coffeehouse concept, offering traditional coffeehouse drinks along with seriously fresh foods for breakfast and lunch that’s available for take-out or dining in.
Curbside’s coffee and espresso offerings are sourced locally from The Commonplace Coffee Co. and Kiva Han of Pittsburgh.
Longtime Curbside customer Lou Marsico of O’Hara stops by five days a week.
He prefers sitting outside while having his morning coffee to “relax” before working at his nearby office. Curbside offers seating for 16 inside, with a bright, clean and modern interior.
“She can’t close,” Marsico jokes. “I’ve seen the Curbside journey since she opened and it amazes me how they know everyone’s name and drink choice and they offer customer service at its best.”
Customer favorites include made-to-order avocado toast, “puffy and soft” chocolate chip cookies, breakfast sandwiches and fresh white-meat baked chicken salad in rotating varieties such as cranberry almond, Greek, avocado citrus, basil pesto, sesame soy and Buffalo chicken.
“The chicken salad is a bit of our signature move,” Witchey says. You can’t fake fresh,” says Witchey. “Our concept is fresh food from the very best ingredients, prepared thoughtfully all day long. I feel so lucky that people choose to come to Curbside. I don’t want to let anyone down. We bring our best game everyday.”
Let your eyes and nose serve as your menu at Curbside.
“The menu is 95% visual,” Witchey says. “No menu. We make what is fresh, seasonal and inspiring.”
Customers visit “the case” at Curbside, stocked hourly with just-made fresh soups, various gourmet sandwiches, salads, desserts and more.
Food is prepared all day long and options can change hourly.
Choose from dozens of freshly blended smoothies such as green grass, orange berry peach, blueberry zinger, blueberry banana and peanut butter banana honey.
“I deeply care about making sure everyone has a positive experience,” Witchey says. “Everyone that walks through Curbside’s door is making a choice to stop by. There are so many options out there. I am humbled by that every day.”
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Curbside Coffeehouse
Where: 405 Freeport Road, Blawnox
Hours: 6 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday; 8 a.m.- 2 p.m, Saturdays; closed Sundays
Contact: 412-828-9810 or curbsidecoffehouse.com
The concept: Fresh foods from the best of ingredients prepared thoughtfully all day long. No menus here. “It’s 95% visual,” says owner/operator Kylee Witchey.
Menu Sample: Food and coffee/specialty drink prices range from $1 to $10 and customers are invited to peruse “the case” — filled and replenished with freshly prepared sandwiches, soups, meals, salads and more all day long. Staples include breakfast sandwiches, rainbow bagels, varieties of chicken salad and avocado toast variations.
Must Try: The cranberry almond chicken salad, smoothies, avocado toast, chocolate chip cookies, homemade soups, deviled eggs, tricked-out salads and signature sandwiches.
The bottom line: A bright, airy and uber-friendly breakfast, brunch and lunch coffeehouse serving seriously fresh foods. Curbside is more than a coffeehouse — it’s thoughtful edible items to brighten your day.
Joyce Hanz is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.