WQED producer
Rick Sebak writes that he loves to start his day at
Katerbean, the cozy coffee shop in his neighborhood of
Regent Square. He was there Election Day morning engaged in friendly banter with its manager Jackie Goodrich, who is known for her carrot cake muffins.
But that’s soon to change. The shop is closing at the end of November. It opened 16 years ago on the Swissvale side of Braddock Avenue and is owned by Kathy Cauley, who also owns
Murphy's Taproom next door.
Discussions are under way with the owners of
61C Cafe in Squirrel Hill to open a second shop in the Katerbean spot, 61c co-owner Gary Kaboly confirmed this week.
If all goes as planned, the new place would be called 61B, the name of the Port Authority bus route that runs up and down Braddock Avenue. Mr. Kaboly, who owns 61C Cafe (also named for a bus line) with Kate Knorr, said some remodeling would be done to brighten up the place and he would hope to open in early 2013.
61C Cafe debuted at the corner Murray Avenue and Bartlett Street on April Fool’s Day in 1994 as one of the first coffee shops in Squirrel Hill. At the time, Mr. Kaboly said he had wanted to open a coffeehouse after visiting Seattle six years earlier.
Being in Regent Square also would tie Mr. Kaboly to another neighborhood love — the
Regent Square Theater, one of three theaters operated by Pittsburgh Filmmakers. Mr. Kaboly is director of exhibition for Filmmakers. It’s currently hosting the
Three Rivers Film Festival through Nov. 17.
Virginia Linn is the Post-Gazette's assistant managing editor for features and enterprise. Virginia Linn photo
bakeries
New offerings include a Turkey, Avocado & Swiss Burger and the Windy City Brat Burger, which piles grilled bratwurst and sauerkraut on top of a pretzel bun with crispy onion rings and beer mustard. 
