Greensburg's Dv8 coffee shop gets 'shot in the arm' with new ownership
Drink a Mexican Volcano, and you never know what might happen.
Zack Dreskler went from enjoying the signature beverage at Dv8 Espresso Bar & Gallery in Greensburg to owning the place.
A longtime customer, Dreskler took over from former owners Kim and Patricia Elliott-Rentler in early April.
The couple, who bought the shop in 2017, had been thinking about selling for a while but weren’t actively pursuing a sale. Kim managed the shop, while Patricia works as an attorney.
They had promised original owner Terri Barrill that “we would only sell to someone who would keep up the spirit of Dv8, the Brooklyn-Seattle vibe,” Kim said. “We wanted them to keep the name, the art and the local flair.”
“I like the word ‘iconic,’” Patricia said. “Dv8 has its own little demographic.”
They were talking with regular customers and friends about selling when serendipity took over.
“Zack was a customer for many years,” Kim said. “He was the perfect fit. He had the background, and he’s young, and that’s what this town needs.”
Dreskler, 32, who grew up in the area and lives near Dv8 in downtown Greensburg, has a hospitality management degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
He previously was a sous chef at J. Corks in Greensburg and manager of the now-closed Brasserie du Soleil in Hempfield.
“My parents were small-business owners, and I’ve always wanted to have a small business in downtown Greensburg,” Dreskler said. “I wanted to take off the chef’s coat and get back into the front of the house to talk to people, which is what I like to do.
“I like to see someone’s face when they take a bite or drink the coffee and smile,” he said. “I find that very gratifying.”
A new era
Dreskler started getting takeout coffee from Dv8 during the pandemic with his girlfriend, Michelle Maxson, who is a friend of Patricia Elliott-Rentler.
“We were very much regulars; we’d come for coffee every day,” said Dreskler, who noted coffee was never a large part of his daily routine beforehand.
With its proprietary blend of Mexican spiced chocolate, shot of espresso and shot of steamed milk, he said, “the Mexican Volcano got me hooked.”
While Dreskler said he intends to keep Dv8’s coffee and tea menu, local art on the walls and a return to live music on the back patio, he does foresee some changes when he feels more established and has the capital.
There’s already a streamlined, new look to the building facade at 208 S. Pennsylvania Ave. The Brian McCall coffee cup sculpture, a longtime fixture, has been removed and given to a former barista.
“My main goal is to put in a small kitchen and do some baking,” Dreskler said.
He has a recipe for New York-style bagels that he’s eager to try, but in the meantime, he’ll continue to serve local bakery products. Beverages are sourced from Prestogeorge Coffee & Tea in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
For Kim, selling Dv8 means retirement and time to pursue her interest in photography. In June, Patricia will step back from full-time to part-time legal practice. They are planning several yearly trips to a condo they recently bought in Belize.
“It’s the end of an era and the beginning of a new one,” Patricia said.
“(Dv8) needed a shot in the arm to make it a destination for people to come down here,” Kim said. “It’s an outlier of the business district. You only get so much foot traffic from the library and the post office.
“Zack is young, and he has some good ideas. We really want him to succeed.”
For now, Dreskler is running the place by himself with help, as needed, from family members and friends.
“I like to be hands-on, but my goal is to be busy enough that I can’t do it by myself,” he said.
Hours are 7 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-1 p.m Saturdays, although the shop will be closed Monday and Tuesday for some repairs and spring cleaning. The premises are dog-friendly.
For more information, visit Dv8 Espresso Bar & Gallery on Facebook.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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