Crazy Mocha Coffee Company

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Crazy Mocha Coffee Company
Industrycoffeehouse chain
Number of locations
10
Area served
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
ProductsCoffee
Websitewww.crazymocha.com

Crazy Mocha Coffee Company is a coffeehouse chain in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania region. As of August 2021, the chain has 10 locations.[1]

History[]

A view from Crazy Mocha

The original store was the Dancing Goats coffee shop on Ellsworth Avenue in Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh.[2] The shop had been named after the apocryphal legend of the dancing goat that heralded the beginning of coffee.[3][4] It was purchased in 2000 by Ken Zeff, a merchandise buyer for J.C. Penney and native resident of Greenfield.[2][5]

As of 2003, the Crazy Mocha chain had growth to 3 locations.[5] During 2004, the operation had doubled to 6 locations and 25 employees.[5] The rapid pace of expansion raised questions among observers about whether the growth was sustainable.[5] By 2008, the 21 locations required over 100 employees.[6]

In 2007, Zeff opened a store at PPG Place near to an existing Starbucks.[2] The new location was to fill the void left by the closure of La Prima Espresso Company.[2] Other downtown locations were developed to improve brand awareness.[7] In 2009, the downtown flagship store was opened on Liberty Avenue in the Cultural District.[8]

In 2009, the expansion into Cranberry marked the first time the store had gone beyond City of Pittsburgh limits into the suburbs. That location was a direct challenge to nearby Starbucks locations had generated $1 million per year.[9]

Crazy Mocha was profiled by the Pittsburgh Business Times to highlight retail stores' issues with the 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh summit.[10][11]

On March 14, 2018, Crazy Mocha was purchased by the Kiva Han Coffee Company, located in Cranberry Township, Pa owned by Ed Wethli. [12]

In October 2020, Crazy Mocha’s parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, due to the effects of the pandemic [13] The company divested 10 locations as part of its restructuring plan and under new management those 10 locations are still proudly serving the Pittsburgh community.

Business philosophy[]

Each location has its own vibe, often themed along with the neighborhood.[14] The Shadyside location matches the art-conscious neighborhood, South Side location has a faux-iron canopy hanging over the tables in honor of the area's industrial past, and the location at the SouthSide Works was based on a trendy Brooklyn cafe.[14] The Bloomfield location teamed up with The Dreaming Ant, an independent video rental store.[5]

When possible, Crazy Mocha uses local contractors for construction and avoids opening near other independent coffee shops.[2] The company has been an early newcomer to urban rehabilitation in Lawrenceville and the North Side.[15] The 2010 opening of the North Side location was hailed as the cornerstone of a redevelopment effort in that neighborhood.[16][17]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Locations". Crazy Mocha Coffee Company. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e Wander, Jonathan (March 2010). "Ken Zeff". Pittsburgh Magazine. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  3. ^ "Munch Goes to Dancing Goats, Katerbean". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 14, 2000. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  4. ^ "Dining on Ellsworth an Al Fresco Adventure". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 19, 2001. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Brewing up business". Pittsburgh Business Times. September 27, 2004. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  6. ^ "Crazy Mocha opens two stores, plans two more in 2009". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. December 11, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  7. ^ "Crazy Mocha has 'Star' in its eyes". Pittsburgh Business Times. August 13, 2007. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  8. ^ "Pittsburgh's Crazy Mocha coffee shop expects steady growth in Cultural District". Pittsburgh Business Times. October 5, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  9. ^ "Crazy Mocha Coffee Co. adding two stores". Pittsburgh Business Times. March 13, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  10. ^ "G-20 expected to be either boom or bust for retail". Pittsburgh Business Times. August 17, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  11. ^ "At Pittsburgh's Crazy Mocha, coffee is the global language". Pittsburgh Business Times. September 28, 2009. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  12. ^ "Cranberry Township-based Kiva Han buys Crazy Mocha coffee: Expect loyalty perks, barista training and more shops". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  13. ^ "Crazy Mocha files for bankruptcy as pandemic hurts coffee shops". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  14. ^ a b Vellucci, Justin (August 30, 2007). "Crazy Mocha is changing the idea of a chain". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  15. ^ Schooley, Tim (February 24, 2012). "Crazy Mocha ready for more expansion, with three on the way". Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  16. ^ Pfister, Bonnie (July 5, 2009). "Crazy Mocha joins North Side revitalization effort". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
  17. ^ Cato, Jason (January 14, 2010). "Planners see progress on transforming the city's North Side". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved June 16, 2013.

External links[]

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