Crazy Mocha Coffee Company

History

The original store was the Dancing Goats coffee shop on Ellsworth Avenue in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, named after the apocryphal legend of the dancing goat that heralded the beginning of coffee. Ken Zeff, a merchandise buyer for J.C. Penney and native of Greenfield, purchased it in 2000. By 2003, the chain had three locations; in 2004 it doubled to six locations with 25 employees, raising questions about sustainability. By 2008, 21 locations required over 100 employees.

In 2007, Zeff opened a store at PPG Place, and in 2009 a downtown flagship store opened on Liberty Avenue in the Cultural District. That year, expansion into Cranberry marked the first move beyond Pittsburgh city limits. Crazy Mocha was profiled by the Pittsburgh Business Times regarding retail issues with the 2009 G-20 Pittsburgh summit. On March 14, 2018, the chain was purchased by Kiva Han Coffee Company of Cranberry Township, owned by Ed Wethli.

In October 2020, the parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to the pandemic, divesting 10 locations that continue operating under new management in the City of Pittsburgh.

Business philosophy

Each location was designed to emulate a small, independent coffee shop fitting its neighborhood. The Shadyside location matched the art-conscious area; the South Side location had a faux-iron canopy honoring the industrial past; the SouthSide Works location was based on a trendy Brooklyn cafe. The Bloomfield location partnered with The Dreaming Ant, an independent video rental store. The company used local contractors when possible and avoided opening near other independent coffee shops. It was an early newcomer to urban rehabilitation in Lawrenceville and the North Side, with the 2010 North Side opening hailed as a cornerstone of redevelopment.