The Coffee Tree Roasters in Mt. Lebanon, a neighborhood staple for decades, has quietly closed. While there was no official announcement, a handwritten “CLOSED” sign was posted in the coffeeshop’s window at 299 Beverly Road as of Thursday morning.
Arlene Bertenthal of Scott Township was surprised to find the shop closed as she strolled along the Beverly Road business district on Thursday.
“It’s a shame,” Bertenthal said. “Their coffee has been wonderful.”
Bertenthal, who used to live in Mt. Lebanon, has been in the area for 40-odd years and was a longtime Coffee Tree customer.
“I don’t remember them ever not being here,” she said.
TribLive was unable to reach the Mt. Lebanon shop by phone on Thursday.
Coffee Tree Roasters offers franchising and licensing for cafes, including many locations at universities and hospitals. The company also operates a roastery and wholesale division located in West Mifflin. It has other retail coffeehouse locations in Shadyside, Fox Chapel, Pleasant Hills and Unity (Latrobe).
State business records list The Coffee Tree Roasters Beverly Road location separately from the corporation headquartered in West Mifflin.
The Mt. Lebanon shop was one of five Coffee Tree Roasters locations whose workers unionized in 2022, but was not included in the most recent contract negotiations in September, according to a union steward at another location.
Jean Swoope, president and owner of The Coffee Tree Roasters, was unavailable for comment until Tuesday, according to a Coffee Tree representative.
Bill Swoope and his father (also Bill) opened the first Coffee Tree Roasters as a small-batch coffee shop and roastery in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood in 1993. That location at 5840 Forbes Ave. has since closed and reopened in November as Pre Amp Coffee Studio, a music-themed coffee shop by the Richard DeShantz Restaurant Group.