New business brewing in Blawnox

A new java spot is coming to Blawnox.

Black Canary Coffeehouse, located in Springdale, is expanding with a second location at 276 Freeport Road.

The flagship coffee and ice cream shop opened in 2021 in Springdale and is located at 636 Pittsburgh St.

Co-owners Julie Kahlbaugh and Rodney Burrell said choosing Blawnox was a natural fit.

“Blawnox shares a lot of the same traits as Springdale. It’s a close-knit community that supports small businesses, is a walking town and the corridor as a whole is going through some growth and development,” Burrell said.

The duo decided to expand because they enjoy new challenges.

“I love the game of entrepreneurship and growth,” Burrell said.

The new shop is expected to open in two to three months.

The interior will feature exposed brick, hardwood floors and wood beam ceilings.

Customers can expect the same menu items found at the Springdale shop, such as coffee, espresso, teas, pastries, bagels, iced coffees, ice cream and milkshakes. The milkshake bar serves up customized drinks.

Kahlbaugh will manage both stores and creates the house-made syrups and menus. Burrell handles the website, marketing and public relations.

The ice cream is sourced from Kerber’s Dairy in North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County.

Burrell said the new space screams “coffee shop vibe,” and he’s excited about building another community of customers and supporters.

“It’s amazing what coffee shops do for communities. They become a place of comfort for people to work, have meaningful conversations, catch up with friends, go on first dates and have business meetings. And, we have a killer front window that will show Freeport Road where all the fun is happening,” Burrell said.