Northland Public Library selects Commonplace Coffee as cafe vendor for reimagined space

The cafe vendor for Northland Public Library’s much-anticipated renovation was announced April 16 as Commonplace Coffee.

After an extensive request for proposals, Northland’s Authority Board unanimously approved a partnership with Commonplace Coffee during an April 10 special board meeting.

The cafe will enhance the library experience for patrons, said Amy Steele, executive director at Northland.

“Commonplace’s focus on the entire coffee experience, from sourcing and roasting their beans to their cafe experience and connection with the community to the alignment of our missions and ethos, we’re truly looking forward to our partnership,” said Steele, in the announcement.

During the planning phases of Northland’s “New Northland” project, patron and community feedback overwhelmingly indicated the desire for a cafe space within the reimagined library, according to Nicholas Yon, the library’s communications director.

A request for proposals was announced in November and was due in January.

Yon said Northland received seven proposals during the RFP process to find a partner for the cafe space, “the focal point of the New Northland reimaging and renovation project.”

Northland researched extensively in the local coffee industry to make this vision a reality, he said.

Commonplace Coffee Northland will be the focal point of the new lower-level library building extension with vista-like views of the surrounding area.

The site will serve as a meeting point, an area to engage with friends and colleagues, a space to connect with materials in the library and a place to work.

A full beverage menu alongside scratch-made baked goods and grab-and-go breakfast and lunch items from Commonplace Bakery will highlight the space. Commonplace and Northland also are excited to partner for coffee-centric education and programming opportunities for library patrons, according to Yon.

Commonplace Coffee operates seven cafes between Indiana and Pittsburgh, as well as a bakery. It was founded by TJ and Julia Fairchild in 2003 in Indiana, Pa., according to commonplacecoffee.com.

“In many ways, this partnership and our eighth cafe location directly represent the core mission and heart of Commonplace, ‘to foster and build community through coffee with craft and care.’ Libraries are one of our most incredible local resources. Being able to carve out a space inside of this important hub and further support our collective community is such a special opportunity,” said Alisa Paul, chief executive officer of Commonplace Coffee.

This is the first time the local chain will be operating a cafe inside a library.

But Commonplace Coffee and the library partnered together in the fall on a fundraising effort to benefit Northland by creating a custom label, Bookshelf Blend. Bags of the blend were sold to raise money for the library, according to Lauren Young, vice president of operations and marketing for Commonplace Coffee.

Construction on the approximately $4 million library project began in September and is expected to last until early summer.

“The timeline is fluid, but our shared goal is to have the cafe space opening to coincide with the opening of the New Northland project,” Yon said.

Commonplace Coffee’s headquarters, located on Washington Boulevard in the Larimer neighborhood of Pittsburgh, is home to its roasting and wholesale production, equipment service, barista training and business operations.

Other Pittsburgh-area locations include Garfield, the Mexican War Streets, Rockwell Park, Squirrel Hill and SouthSide Works. There are two locations in Indiana, Pa.