This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Business & Tech

West View Native Plans To Open Coffee Buddha

After experiencing his own awakening, Mike Witherel set out to design the perfect job and community spot.

This article has been updated from a previous version to include information about the shop's opening day.

West View resident Mike Witherel has a specific vision for the coffee shop he plans to open soon at 964 Perrysville Ave. 

“Growing up in the North Hills, there was really nowhere to go as a kid if you didn’t want to go to your parent’s house. Your options were very, very limited,” said Witherel, 25. “I wanted to open a community spot where people could go to -- a community-based, loiter-friendly place.” 

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

His new shop, named Coffee Buddha, will feature a Buddhism theme and will  incorporate calm in the artwork and color palette.

“I’m trying to sell atmosphere here where people will want to come and have meetings and meet others,” he said. “It will be a relaxing place. It’s something very different to the area, totally unique.”

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

The bright-red main floor will seat 10 to 20 people with additional seating available outside. Inspired by his own pooches, Witherel said he plans to make front-porch seating dog-friendly to accommodate the dog walkers that stroll past his shop.

The soon-to-be-opened upstairs will feature theme rooms, such as a game room, study room, meeting rooms for guest speakers and space for spoken-word and musical performances. Witherel also plans to install flat-screen TVs and couches upstairs for movie nights.

Witherel graduated from West Virginia University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and later earned a masters of science degree in organizational studies and employee relations/leadership from Robert Morris University in Moon. He said the idea for opening his shop came after he spent time wandering and seeking the right job for him. He was disheartened by the experience, he said.

“I wanted to be my own boss. I worked in an office for a few years but I couldn’t see myself doing it anymore,” he said. “I had to create the job that I wanted.”

Thanks to the help of his entrepreneurial-minded family, Witherel said the opportunity to open and outfit his own coffee shop fell into his lap. His mother Brenda once owned an antique and salvage shop, Architectural Details and Salvage, in nearby Ross Township. His father, attorney Michael J. Witherel, practices with Witherel & Associates next door to the coffee shop.

Witherel’s business strategy revolves in part around supporting other local and small businesses.

Common Place Coffee, a roastery in Indiana, PA, supplied Coffee Buddha's equipment and will provide its beans. Pure Café in Wexford will be the source for the lunch menu, while Lincoln Bakery in Bellevue will provide the sweets.

Witherel said he would like to display from local artists, specialty candy made by Pittsburgh folks and Coffee Buddha’s own merchandise line.

As is the norm in most coffee shops, Coffee Buddha will offer specialty drinks in addition to the usual coffee concoctions. The shop will be open for the early-morning rush and late-night crowd, he said. He has hired four employees to help run the shop. 

The shop is expected to open next week, Witherel said. Hours will be 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Witherel will also be open for limited hours on Sunday, July 3rd for the Fourth of July Parade and will have free samples of iced tea & iced coffee, he said. 

Keep updated on the opening date via the shop's website,www.thecoffeebuddha.com, Facebook page and Twitter account.

 

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?