Brother Andre’s Cafe opens 2nd location in Bellevue
Patrick Fitzgerald has the ingredients for “Patrick’s Famous Snickerdoodles” memorized.
They’re famous because they are made with love at Brother Andre’s Café, a coffee shop that hires adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Brother Andre’s Café opened a second location on Saturday at The Church of the Assumption in Bellevue, a worship site of Regina Coeli Parish. It offers the same menu as the Downtown Pittsburgh location in Divine Mercy Parish, which includes coffee, tea and other beverages, a variety of breakfast and lunch selections, and Fitzgerald’s cookies that he and the other team members make.
“I love to make all of the cookies,” said Fitzgerald, 28, who is on the autism spectrum. “Snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, chocolate chip peanut butter, gluten free peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, scones.”
Being employed at the cafe is more than a job for Fitzgerald — it’s a place he is accepted. He and his cousin Michael Oberschelp, 35, of Peters, who uses a wheelchair, were the first employees. After high school, Fitzgerald trained at Community College of Allegheny County’s food service program, but there weren’t a lot of employment opportunities for him, according to his mom, Terri Fitzgerald of McCandless.
Patrick’s parents Terri and Mike Fitzgerald prayed the Rosary for a way to share the joy they experienced through their son in serving others. Their prayers were answered by the Rev. Chris Donley, pastor at Divine Mercy Parish who co-founded Move A Mountain Missions with Dan Gallagher. The non-profit organization operates Brother Andrew’s Cafe and serves the most vulnerable by hosting mission trips and traveling with students from Central Catholic and Oakland Catholic to Mustard Seed Communities, a home for abandoned children with disabilities in Kingston, Jamaica.
When the couple approached Donley about the idea of opening a coffee shop, he agreed immediately because he was looking for such a venture to help in Pittsburgh.
The name came from the patron saint of caregivers, Brother André Bessette, who struggled to find employment because of his sickness and frailty, but when given a chance, he went on to perform miracles, Mike Fitzgerald said.
“Patrick loves baking. He began making cookies for family and friends. He is really good at it, too,” Terri Fitzgerald said.
The cafe began as a kiosk at the Divine Mercy Parish Lenten fish fry in February 2020, serving coffee and his homemade cookies.
Like with nearly everything else, the pandemic canceled plans for a grand opening.
They pivoted to an online shop selling coffee, cookies and merchandise and officially opened the first cafe in October 2021. With this second location, they will have 25 employees.
One of those is Mickey Holleran of Franklin Park.
“I like everything here,” Holleran said with a smile.
His mother Sue Holleran said her son’s quality of life is improved and she recognized the Fitzgeralds and the team members helping those with special needs.
“These two are two heroes,” said Sue Holleran, referring to Mike and Terri Fitzgerald. “They understand parents of people with disabilities. This is a special needs parent’s dream come true.”
In attendance at the opening in Bellevue were Donley and Bellevue Mayor Val Pennington, who said he was intrigued when he heard about the cafe from Bridgette Pepmeyer, staff occupational therapist and director of communications for Brother Andre’s Cafe.
“This will enable (those with intellectual and developmental disabilities) to interact, which is good for them and good for the community,” Pennington said. “The spaces that both cafes are located in were underutilized at the time, which is a win, win, win, win, win all around.”
As a parent, Pennington said he understands the Fitzgeralds’ dedication to their son.
“I would move heaven and earth to make sure my child was getting opportunities,” Pennington said.
“We were very lucky,” Mike Fitzgerald said. “Father Donley is one in a million. We want our team members to feel good about working here. It’s about dignity and grace and we want them to feel a sense of satisfaction. Those with disabilities are under-appreciated in the world. People don’t talk to them. We care about all of them and shine a light very bright on every one of our team members.”
Brother Andre’s Cafe locations
The Bellevue location at 45 North Sprague Ave. is open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and beginning April 21, the café will be open on Fridays from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brother Andre’s Cafe first shop is located in Downtown Pittsburgh at 164 Washington Place.
Details: brotherandres.org
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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