Drawn In Café is helping to activate a corner of Wilkinsburg one cup at a time.
Located at 7720 Waverly Ave., at the corner of Peebles St. where Wilkinsburg meets Regent Square, Drawn In opened its doors on March 21st. Owners are Charles and Peter Patterson of
CP Development—who own more than 60 properties in the area. Café manager is David Hahn, an artist who has lived and worked in California, and who is known locally for his work on the
MLK busway mural in East Liberty.
Hahn’s vision extends beyond that of a neighborhood coffeehouse. In addition to brewing espresso, he sells used records and general store items, and plans to host live music, add free WiFi, a piano and outdoor seating, and carry pastries and doughnuts. “I’d like to see it thrive. They’re really letting my energy take the plough. I’m thinking about painting the façade. We had an architect draw up designs for us,” says Hahn, who painted the café and finished its floors.
Hahn, who lives near the café and studied art at
Carnegie Mellon, is particularly passionate about the café’s location along the historic trail to Fort
Pitt: “In 1754, George Washington passed through here."
For now, word of mouth has helped generate community interest. “Everyone in the neighborhood says we'll be successful once more people find out about it,” adds Hahn, who hopes to connect with the
Penn Avenue Arts Initiative. “I’m trying to get on
Unblurred’s First Fridays. It’d be great advertising. We have to have late hours to be successful.”
Writer:
Jennifer BaronSource: David Hahn, Drawn In Café
Image courtesy Drawn In Café