Editor’s Note: Redhawk officially opens to the public on Fri, Oct 30 (7am to 6pm).

Fans of Redhawk Coffee: rejoice!

The shop’s long-anticipated expansion to a third location is full steam ahead up the Allegheny River. Located at 1019 N Canal St. — next door to the historic Gran Canal Caffe — you’ll soon be able to visit Redhawk in the borough of Sharpsburg.

The Sharpsburg space will feature an espresso bar and — in a first for Redhawk — a fully operational coffee roaster.

Where are the Other Redhawk Locations?

After launching a sleek, cozy coffee shop in Oakland (2016) and then expanding to Downtown Pittsburgh (2018) with a cafe that operates inside Shop PG&H, the Redhawk team is excited to bring their small-batch, single-origin coffee to Sharpsburg.

Owner Braden Walter expects construction to be complete in the next few weeks with inspections and final reviews taking place in early July.

Why Expand to Sharpsburg?

Until recently, Cafe on Main served Sharpsburg as the borough’s flagship diner and coffee shop. After closing in March 2020, the next closest coffee shop to Sharpsburg became Beans ‘N’ Cream in neighboring Aspinwall.

Another Sharpsburg staple – Brother Tom’s Bakery, located on Main Street – offers coffee and diner fare to the borough of nearly 4,000 residents.

The launch of Redhawk’s Sharpsburg space marks the return of a dedicated coffee shop to the riverside community.

“I used to eat at Gran Canal Caffe with my mom and dad when I was a kid,” Walter explains. “This borough has stayed completely intact. It carries an old school charm and has a working-class vibe. Sharpsburg is right on the river and has some amazing community leaders too.”

What Can Folks Expect at Redhawk in Sharpsburg?

Guests walking into Redhawk will note the large roaster, located near the back of the space.

“I used to pay per hour to roast on the equipment at Espresso Analysts in Verona,” Walter explains. “With our own, in-house roaster, folks will probably see me in the back wearing headphones. It’s not to be rude, I’m just focusing on the process.”

Guests will also notice the historic, mosaic tile floors and repurposed wood on the bar.

“When we built the espresso bar, we took old church doors from Construction Junction and chopped them up, and put them back together like a puzzle. I’m kind of amazed we got it looking so good.”

Walter also plans to carry “nerdy, educational coffee books on roasting techniques and all the coffee gear for folks who brew at home.”

“We are also considering kombucha,” Walter adds. “We have a kegerator so folks can expect draft cold brew and possibly some other (new) menu items as well.”

Another Sharpsburg-specific addition to Redhawk will be a fishing rod loaner program.

“We’ll have about 12 fishing rods along with bait. Folks can loan our stuff to go fish in the river and then return them when they’re done.”

What Used to be in the Redhawk space?

Folks familiar with Sharpsburg will note that the space used to be home to a State Farm Insurance office and Trozzo’s Cafe. Redhawk’s new neighbors include Gran Canal Caffe, Sugar Spell Scoops ice cream and Dancing Gnome Beer.

“Sharpsburg has great breweries and we want to be a place that offers something to complement the beer scene,” Walter says. “We plan to do that with our charcuterie and cheese program and other small plates.”

Know Before You Go: Redhawk Coffee Sharpsburg

Location: 1019 N Canal St. Pittsburgh, PA 15215 // Guests may also be able to access Redhawk through an entrance on Main Street

Hours: Hours are to be determined, but per Walter – expect Redhawk to open around 7 a.m. and stay open through the evening “for pie or cake and maybe even some acoustic tunes from our friends in the music community.”

Parking: We recommend using the street parking (metered) along Canal Street or Main Street. Additionally, there are plenty of (residential) side streets within blocks of Redhawk.

Public Transit: For folks riding the bus, the 91 and 1 transit lines drop off directly in front of Dancing Gnome Beer. Walk around the Guyasuta Square statue and continue along Canal Street to Redhawk. Look for the iconic maroon awning above Gran Canal Caffe.

Follow Redhawk Coffee on social media for updates: Redhawk Coffee Facebook Page // Redhawk Coffee Instagram

Header Image: Redhawk Coffee in Sharpsburg.