Kaffeehaus Café held its grand opening June 10, and it was an auspicious start. The corner coffeehouse in Deutschtown was “just bombed” with customers, says Tammy Waraks, co-owner with her husband, Chris. The Spring Hill couple — he’s in real-estate development — “really did this for the community,” she says.
The modestly sized café, located inside a former barbershop across the street from Deutschtown’s firehouse, has a few tables, a patio and its own small parking lot. Slats from vintage wooden cherry crates tile one wall. Tammy Waraks and her son, Chris, staff the counter.
“I love to cook,” says Tammy Waraks, who makes everything from the chicken-salad sandwiches to pecan-pie muffins and single-serving cherry pies on-site. Chris handles beverages sourced from Allegheny Coffee & Tea Exchange, including a specialty: nitro coffee and tea, cold-brewed for 20 hours and served on tap, with a creamy head.
Kaffeehaus is open 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. While the few blocks surrounding the café (which sits just east of I-279) have their share of vacant and run-down buildings, customers seem undeterred. Even the second official day of business saw a steady stream of morning visitors. One was Lana Shaftic, a counselor at nearby Schiller Elementary School. “I come by [this corner] all the time. I was like, ‘I’ll stop by today,’” she says. “I’ll spread the word.”
1022 Chestnut St., North Side. 412-720-2051
