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Black Forge coffee in Allentown reopening under new ownership | TribLIVE.com
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Black Forge coffee in Allentown reopening under new ownership

Ryan Deto
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Courtesy Hilltop Alliance/Sebastian Foltz
Black Forge coffee shop in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood
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Courtesy Hilltop Alliance/Sebastian Foltz
Kelly Braden is taking over as owner of Black Forge Coffee House in Allentown.

After announcing in May that its Allentown coffee shop was closing after nearly seven years in operation, Black Forge will be reopening this month thanks to new ownership.

Kelly Braden owns and operates the eccentric gift shop The Weeping Glass just down the street in Pittsburgh’s Allentown neighborhood. She officially took over ownership of Black Forge Allentown Friday. She said she expects the coffee shop to reopen to mid July.

Braden was a manager at Zeke’s Coffee for several years and is close friends with Black Forge owner Ashley Corts. In a Facebook post, Corts said Braden will be an ideal owner of the Allentown location.

“Her adoration for Allentown is plainly evident, her dedication to community is mind blowing, and her connection to all things weird is a thing to behold,” wrote Corts.


Related:

Allentown guide


Braden said her plan is to keep the brand and menu at Black Forge Allentown essentially the same. She said she was already discussing helping with an interior redesign with Corts before the announced closure, and said the shop will undergo a minor remodel before reopening.

“I love their branding, and I love their drinks,” said Braden.

She said when the news hit in May that the shop would be closing, the community was devastated, so she knew it would be a good idea to work to bring it back.

“The neighborhood is starting to come back from a streak of empty storefronts, and Black Forge is a big part of that,” said Braden. “Losing its cornerstone coffee shop would be devastating. Having a neighborhood coffee shop is essential.”

The McKees Rocks Black Forge location is still in operation under Cort’s ownership.

Braden said she is glad to step in and take over Allentown and is hoping to add more live events to the Allentown location, mentioning the possibilities of hosting a true-crime book club and live podcast recordings.

She also is bullish on reestablishing brunches at the Black Forge Allentown, which were a regular thing before the pandemic hit. Branden said she is already in contact with some independent vendors who can supply brunch fare.

“Bringing brunches back is a big thing,” she said.

Braden is also the founder of Allentown Night Market, and she acknowledged Black Forge’s role in revitalizing the neighborhood’s business district. According to the neighborhood nonprofit the Hilltop Alliance, the Allentown business district grew its storefront occupancy rate from 56% in 2014 to 95% this year. Black Forge coffee shop at 1206 Arlington Ave. opened in 2015.

And Braden hopes that bringing Black Forge Allentown back will create some new energy for the shop.

“The people that have been supporting the coffee shop are the locals, and we want to continue to serve them, but we also want to see a new burst of customers enjoying Black Forge.”

Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.

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