Veteran-owned Glass City Cafe to open in Jeannette

A coffee shop set for a grand opening in Jeannette on Saturday is focusing on veterans in reviving an old building on Clay Avenue.

Glass City Cafe owner Jeremy Mock, a Marine veteran who is in the Navy Reserve, and co-owner Denise Ward are seeking out veteran-owned companies for supplies, including coffee, cookies and tea.

A space in the back of the building, which previously housed Nancy’s Grille & Coffee Shop and a meat market, will be used for community gatherings as well as meeting space for veterans.

“Everything bought so far is veteran owned and veteran operated,” Ward said.

The shop’s festivities will begin at 8 a.m. Saturday. The first 22 customers will get a free coffee, and other activities are planned.

Siblings Ward, of Jeannette, and Mock, a Penn-Trafford graduate who lives near Philadelphia, have been working for months on the space. The original flooring and subway tiles on the walls remain.

“We tried to use everything that was in the building to repurpose it,” Ward said.

The shop will have pastries and could eventually serve more food items. It is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to noon.

The spot joins a new coffee roaster on South Second Street, across from city hall. Miller Coffee Roasters opened in September, and owner Jo Miller said she learned about roasting while traveling for her husband’s job in 2020. After settling back in Jeannette, Miller continued her passion with a storefront.

She brews a coffee of the day and sells her roasts by the pound while imparting her knowledge through regular community classes.

“I’m trying to make it fun,” she said.

The shop has made connections with local business to offer space for outside products. Miller has sweets for sale made by Courtney’s Candies and they’ve collaborated on a candy bar.

“I offer my space to people that may not have a brick and mortar store,” she said.

Tips are donated on a monthly basis to nonprofit groups. The shop is open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Work continues at the Clay Avenue building where Jennifer Toughlian of Penn Township plans to open a bakery, hopefully sometime in the next couple months. Peinetti’s will have pies, breads, cookies, cupcakes, pastries and eventually doughnuts, she said. The bakery will accept special orders and have seating to enjoy the sweet treats.

“Jeannette is a charming little town that’s been forgotten about,” she said.

Toughlian is already working with local restaurants to supply them with baked goods, including cakes at Persichetti’s Restaurant with plans for additional offerings at other locations.