7 Brew stirs things up in Pittsburg
By Addie Hinterweger and Dylan Waggoner
PITTSBURG, Kansas—Pittsburg coffee-drinkers now have yet another option to satisfy their caffeine cravings—right across the street from Starbucks and down the street from Scooters.
7 Brew opened February 5th after breaking ground in late 2023 at the company’s new location at 2817 N. Broadway St. While convenient for people on the north end of Pittsburg, the spot has many potential customers wondering why 7 Brew didn’t look farther south.
Lance Manning, who owns the new 7 Brew, said it came down to profitability.
“We thought about being further south, a little closer to Pitt State, but the traffic counts are much lower, and the students are not there seven days a week, 52 weeks a year,” Manning said. “We find a lot of synergy when we are located near others, as will [the concentration of coffee/drink quick service restaurants].”
UNCAFFEINATED CAMPUS
Pittsburg State University students say what makes sense on paper doesn’t always fit with reality, noting that being in a high-traffic area doesn’t mean much if customers already have other options.
PSU student Lesly Bocanegra is one of those who would have preferred a new drink shop near PSU and thinks 7 Brew may become like the many other coffee shops nearby.
“There are already too many drive-through coffee places in town,” Bocanegra said. “I would look forward to 7 Brew if it were closer to campus for more coffee options south of town.”
Another Pitt State student, Keegan Cearnal, agreed, saying he is glad there is a new option but that he isn’t likely to be drawn to it.
“I am excited about 7 Brew coming to town, but I don’t think it’s necessary because we have a ton of coffee shops already,” Cearnal said. “It’s not going to change my current coffee-drinking habits because I usually make coffee at home, as it’s a lot cheaper and usually tastes better.”
Despite being removed from campus, 7 Brew representatives said the company will strive to be involved in both Pittsburg State University and the Pittsburg community. The company has already hired Pitt State students and will continue to support more university programs in the future.
PLENTY OF ROOM
Local coffee shop owners say they’re not concerned about the long-term effects of 7 Brew coming to Pittsburg. Andra Stefanoni, co-owner of Root Coffeehouse, said that locally owned coffee shops like Signet and her own, offer things that chain corporations and drive-throughs cannot.
“Friends and families meet at Root to play our collection of board games and hear live music,” Stefanoni said. “Customers get books from our Little Free Library and sit down with a hot drink to read in a cozy corner, or they pick up a special gift from our market that was handcrafted by people they know.”
She highlighted the sense of community Root provides to Pittsburg citizens and Pittsburg State university students.
“We have a crew of baristas who get to know customers so well that they are on a first- name basis and know just how they like their drink,” Stefanoni said. “We have even had college students ask us if they could hold their engagement and graduation parties in our shop because it was their “second home” during their time at PSU.”
Because of that, instead of thinking negatively about a new development of a chain drive-through coffee seller in Pittsburg, Stefanoni said she welcomes the company and will continue to focus on her own establishment.
“Rather than worry about the chains,” Stefanoni said, “all we can do is lean into what we are and what we offer, and hope that by doing so we can continue to make a difference to our community.”
Similarly, Leah Posterick, co-owner of Signet Coffee Roasters, expressed little worry over the arrival of 7 Brew and said she, too, welcomes the shop into town.
“This town is large enough to handle coffee shops all over the place,” Posterick said, adding that she’s not at all worried about losing long-term customers.
“I’ve always noticed that when new ones come to town, everyone has to try out the newbie,” Posterick said. “If your product is good, they have to have a reason why they would stay with the newbie, you know? If your product is what they love and your service is good, you should be set.”
7 Brew owner Lance Manning is embracing that his establishment is the “newbie.”
“Our culture is all about cultivating kindness,” Manning said, “and that is totally what we have felt as we have been welcomed into Pittsburg.
