“I began experimenting with soap making about 10 years ago, and have been selling it at Root ever since Root opened. I even make a Root soap with coffee beans! I wanted a good, natural product that was gentle. I have an autoimmune disease, and I really like to know what’s going on my skin. I’m into homesteading — gardening, raising chickens — and doing this was a natural fit. My husband Carl and I are also vendors at Pittsburg Farmer’s Market. Just like the cooking we do, mak

"My dad’s law firm was upstairs, and when I was a teenager I helped him clean the office. That would have been in the late 1950s, early 1960s. His name was Peter Farabi, too. My grandpa had a bar about where TOAST is now. My uncle’s office — his name was Sylvan Bruner — was across the street up above what's now Brick + Mortar restaurant, just down the hall from KOAM radio. That’s where Jo and I are headed now, Brick + Mortar, just as soon as I finish my coffee. I’m just thril

Moazma of Pakistan, Pamela of Mexico, and Aiman of Pakistan found a feeling of "home" at Root. "We are enjoying Root one last time together today before I leave to go home to Pakistan tomorrow. My name is Aiman, and I've been an exchange student at Pittsburg State University in electronics engineering. Moazma is a medical doctor who came here from Pakistan as an exchange student in psychology, and Pamela is a dentist from Mexico who is in the Intensive English Program at Pitt

"I'm a lifelong local and just got back from bicycling across Europe — 14 countries in three months — where I saw coffeeshops everywhere there. Denmark. France. Slovenia. They're pretty popular. A place to gather, to relax and enjoy each others' company and a great drink. A sense of community. I love Root for that reason. I've been coming here for years, and it's great to be back. You can come here and work, enjoy a great drink, and always see someone you recognize. Have some