Yes, the Beleza Community Coffeehouse in the North Side is a business. The rich, aromatic coffees, the baked goods and the vegetarian fare at the small, cozy spot aren't given away.
But there's also something beyond commerce going on at the Buena Vista Street location that goes beyond the reach of most businesses. During a recent visit, a young woman asked if she could start another tab after just paying off her bill. The answer was yes, and the woman walked away, newly caffeinated and grateful.
Joanna Deming, one of the shop's co-owners, says the tab system was developed informally and has become a popular feature.
"It's very successful, and it says something about our community that we can trust people," she says.
Founded by seven graduates of Hope College in Holland, Mich., the Beleza Community Coffeehouse opened in February 2006 in an abandoned storefont. The mission, as stated on Beleza's Web site, is for people to "share resources and quality food and drink" while also paying heed to the environment and the local economy by supporting local business.
Thus, the bountiful vegetarian fare Beleza offers from Mung Dynasty in the South Side. The wraps and salads are huge, come in a variety of flavors and are a mere $5.25.
For those looking for sweets, there is an assortment of pastries, notably banana bread ($1.50), muffins ($2) and cinnamon rolls ($2.15).
During two visits to Beleza, there has been only one drawback: The place has been so crowded that it's been hard to find a spot to sit. The choc-a-block array of tables, chairs and sofas were filled, although there was space available outside on a recent humid, summer day.
But because there's limited seating, another of Beleza's goals has been realized.
"One of the unique things about it is, you may go there the first time and end up sitting with three different people you didn't know before," Deming says. "You connect with people because there's nowhere else to sit."
But the heart of any coffeehouse still is coffee, and the fare at Beleza is both hearty and with good intentions. It brews Peace Coffee, a fair-trade company that uses coffees from Colombia and Mexico, and Building New Hope, a Pittsburgh-based company that partners with La Prima Espresso to import coffee from Nicaragua.
An in-house mug of coffee is merely $1, with refills 50 cents. (No wonder the place is always filled.) Bring in your own 16-ounce carry-out mug, and it's $1.50 -- the same price for a 12-ounce cup to go.
Beleza also offers a wide range of espressos and cappuccinos at prices lower than most chains'. And don't forget the lattes, which more than a few patrons rave about. At $3.25 for a 12-ounce and $3.75 for 16 ounces, they are a bargain. They're also whimsically named: Let's Wrestle is caramel apple; Jumble, Jumble, dark-chocolate cherry; Can You Still Feel the Butterflies?, blackberry vanilla; and Horses in the Sky, almond hazelnut.
Best of all, Beleza has exceeded the owners' expectations.
"The response from the community, the level of support, has enabled us to break even from day one," Deming says.
Additional Information:
Beleza Community Coffeehouse
Where: 1501 Buena Vista St., North Side.
Hours: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Fridays, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays.
Details: 412-321-4210.
