Hazelwood Café Serves Up Connections One Cup at a Time
SBA Microloan Helps Young Entrepreneur Realize His Bean Dream
Dasawn Gray has only poured himself one cup of coffee since the 2021 opening the Hazelwood Café, a local coffee and tea haven. His guests may find that quite surprising.
“I really like learning about coffee and roasting it, “ Gray said. “It started when I was cleaning stores and buildings, one of which was a coffee shop. The owner offered me a free cup, with a catch: I had to make it myself. He wanted me to like black coffee.”
Gray, 23, who worked as a soy candle maker and as a truck driver said owning his own coffee shop is his true calling.
When the corner spot in his neighborhood was for rent, Gray relied on the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to help turn a shuttered venue into a neighborhood gem. While crisscrossing the country as a truck driver, he came up with his business plan.
“I researched templates online and started writing; I even calculated sales projections and it took me about a year,” he said. “I found out that Bridgeway Capital provided SBA Microloans and they accepted my proposal.”
SBA Western Pa District Director Dr. Kelly Hunt said SBA (U.S. Small Business Administration) Microloans are a great source for small-dollar financing for entrepreneurs like Gray.
“Borrowers can receive up to $50,000 in capital and free assistance to help their business succeed,” she added. “Last year, 92 area entrepreneurs received $2.7 million in funding.”
Armed with capital, changes quickly came to the space. The once-dark interior was hand-painted in a palette of warm colors. A mural, new tables and chairs and a large decorative chalkboard menu also were added.
Believing the café should be a community asset, Gray perked up the fare with special events.
“We have open mic day, a paint and sip day and a single and mingle day, along with fall festival, Halloween and Christmas shopping,” he said. “We get 20 people for the paint day -- it’s nice to see people not on their phones and instead talking and enjoying the atmosphere and each other.”
His café now is a hot spot for everyone from lawyers to college students, Pittsburgh’s mayor, the local city councilwoman and area painters and artisans.
“I never imagined this, it’s crazy how life changes,” he said. “I’m a social person and now get to connect with people in my own shop.”
Not only is the décor local, so are the ingredients. “We locally source our sauces and milks,” Gray added. “I make my own tea blends and hope to do the same with roasted coffees and name them after streets in Hazelwood. I can’t duplicate the energy of the café. Friendships are made here. We donate free meals to homeless area high-school students and one customer noticed my door hinge was broken, went to his car for tools and fixed it for free.”
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