The Baked Bean opened on Valentine's Day with a simple mission: bring good coffee to the South Hills. The shop, run by husband-and-wife team Amanda and David Chen, features beans from regional roasters, fresh pastries, and a drive-through window designed for busy South Hills schedules. The timing is intentional—Valentine's Day sends the message that this is a shop about love for the community.
The South Hills is often treated as a secondary market by specialty coffee roasters and bakeries. Most quality coffee shops concentrate Downtown, in Lawrenceville, or East Liberty. The assumption has been that the South Hills prefers convenience to quality. The Chens believe that assumption is wrong.
The South Hills Coffee Opportunity
The South Hills is home to thousands of people. Many work Downtown, in Oakland, or elsewhere, and their mornings are rushed. A drive-through coffee shop with quality beans is exactly what that demographic needs. The Chens have designed the business for them, not despite them.
"The South Hills doesn't need less quality. It needs quality that fits South Hills life."
Amanda Chen, Owner
The business model is replicable. If The Baked Bean succeeds, expect more specialty coffee shops to reconsider the South Hills as a market worth investing in.
The shop is located in a neighborhood commercial center and is planning extended hours to serve the commuting population.