Riverstone Books' New McCandless Café Opens at 7 A.M.

At 7 a.m. on a weekday, a coffee counter inside a McCandless bookstore starts serving. The store's posted weekday hours begin later. The Greenhouse Cafe at Riverstone Books' new home, 65 Blazier Drive in Pine Creek Shopping Center, runs from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends, according to TribLive. The bookstore's own contact page lists store hours starting at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday.

That gap in hours is the biggest change from the move. For nine years, Riverstone's North Hills store had no café. The new building gives it a schedule from early morning into the evening. Coffee starts at 7, storytime and book clubs fill the middle of the day, and author events take over after the café closes.

Nine Years at McCandless Crossing, Then a Former Saddlery

Riverstone opened its North Hills store at McCandless Crossing in 2017 and stayed there nine years. The company also runs a shop in Squirrel Hill. Owner Barbara Jeremiah told TribLive that she moved because her lease was ending and she needed more room for events. Someone suggested the former Dover Saddlery building. The equestrian-supply chain had closed its brick-and-mortar stores earlier this year.

The store's own move notice said the McCandless Crossing shop would close August 9 and reopen at Pine Creek Center about two weeks later. It promised more space for events, more space to sit and read, more books, a café, and a porch. After renovations, the bookstore reopened on August 25. The café followed on October 15, and a ribbon-cutting took place the next day, October 16.

State Sen. Lindsey Williams and state Rep. Arvind Venkat came to the ceremony. Williams told TribLive she had already visited the new store three times. "It's such a great place. It's fun to get recommendations for books," she told the outlet. Venkat, on his first visit, called himself a "big fan" of nonfiction history and biographies.

The address matters for anyone deciding whether this fits their routine. Riverstone's store page puts 65 Blazier Drive in McCandless Township, the same township as the old shop at McCandless Crossing.

What the Greenhouse Cafe Pours, and Who Supplies It

The café is the first Riverstone has ever run. It serves espresso drinks, drip coffee, assorted teas and pastries. Both suppliers are local businesses:

• Coffee: Mechanic Coffee Co., a roaster based in Verona. Owner David Sutfin told TribLive the company has two retail locations, one in Verona and one in Shadyside.
• Pastries: One Sweet Cookie, a local bakery.

NEXTpittsburgh's October openings guide listed the café among the month's new spots and noted that Jeremiah's interest in gardening shaped its design. TribLive described plants, green walls and warm lighting, with reading areas near the café in addition to a seating area by the children's and youth sections.

Why the Café Hours Shape the Whole Day

Almost every McCandless morning and afternoon program takes place while the café is open. The author events and most book clubs start at 7 p.m., four hours after the café closes.

Here is how a typical McCandless week fits together, using the café hours reported by TribLive and the store's November calendar:

1. 7 a.m. on weekdays, 8 a.m. on weekends: The Greenhouse Cafe opens.
2. 9:30 a.m.: Children's programs. Saturday Storytime runs every week, and Toddler Yoga Storytime and Toddler Music Storytime alternate on Tuesdays.
3. 2 p.m.: Daytime book clubs, including Riverstone Around the Globe and the New & Notable Book Club.
4. 3 p.m.: The café closes.
5. 7 p.m.: Author talks, evening book clubs and Sip & Stitch.

The old store had no café and less room for events. Jeremiah told TribLive the extra 1,500 square feet has already allowed several public events, including author talks and book clubs. She also said she was glad to bring back programs for young readers at the McCandless store, with storytime every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. That Saturday slot now falls inside the café's weekend hours. Coffee is available more than an hour before the first picture book is read.

The McCandless November Calendar

Riverstone posts events for both stores on one calendar, so it's easy to show up at the wrong one. The listings below are only the ones at 65 Blazier Drive. Squirrel Hill events at 5841 Forbes Ave. are left out.

Saturday Storytime runs at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 31 and on Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28. According to TribLive, both the Ethan Joella evening and the Courtney Gould and Allison Saft conversation require registration. The Sip & Stitch listing invites crafters to bring a project for an hour of conversation and a bit of wine.

December's calendar is lighter so far. Read the Rainbow is listed for Dec. 7, Riverstone Around the Globe for Dec. 9 and Strange New Worlds for Dec. 14.

Beyond the Coffee and the Calendar

Alongside books, TribLive listed audiobooks, crafts, puzzles, games, fidget toys and advanced Lego sets, and noted that Riverstone also runs book fairs at schools. The store's site still offers free shipping of online orders to the store for pickup at the register. Its booksellers also deliver to the North Hills, among other neighborhoods.

Jeremiah told TribLive that "a lot of people don't want to be on their screens." The Pine Creek building gives those people more choices for when to come in. They can stop for a 7 a.m. coffee before work, bring a toddler at 9:30, join a 2 p.m. book club, or hear an author at 7. Published bookstore hours vary between sources, so check Riverstone's contact page before planning a visit around the shelves instead of the café.

To find it, look for the former Dover Saddlery building at 65 Blazier Drive in Pine Creek Shopping Center.

If you're thinking about a move within the North Allegheny area, or into it, and want to talk through how a home fits the routines you already have, Hope Harmotto and our team would be glad to meet you for coffee and listen. Schedule a Consultation whenever you're ready.