There are grounds for celebration at 23 Market Square this spring. That’s because the purveyor at that particular location, Nicholas Coffee, is celebrating 100 years in the brew business. “We’re still in the early stages of planning,” says Jordan Nicholas, “but we’re definitely going to have a rollback day in the fall. We’ll be selling a pound of coffee at the 1919 price—47 cents a pound.”
A Pittsburgh introduction
It was Jordan’s great-grandfather, Nicholas Constantine Nicholas, who emigrated from Greece to Pittsburgh. Along with his Mediterranean roots, he brought to our city a love of all things coffee, which has been passed down through four generations. Nicholas hung the Nicholas Brothers Coffee shingle long before lattes, skinnies, and grandes were in fashion. Back then coffee was sold by the pound, not the cup.
The founder’s son, Constantine, who was known as Gus, took over the business after serving in World War II and was known to many in the area as “Mr. Coffee.” His son Nick took the reigns during the 1970s, and Nick’s son Jordan—who worked weekends and summers at the shop as a teenager—is at the helm today. Although, as a father and co-owner, Nick still weighs in from time to time. “As long as he is breathing, he will be involved,” says 34-year-old Jordan. The store looks a bit different than it would have in Jordan’s great-grandfather’s days. The Nicholas product line has grown to include imported candies, syrups, snacks, and beverage accessories. But the latest member of the family in charge fires up roasters that have been around as far back as the 1920s, processing several thousand pounds each week— one batch at a time. Passing the business down from son to son has been a long-standing tradition for the Nicholas family. But Jordan admits that tradition just might be changing. “It’s really about who’s most interested in the business. I have a niece who loves coming here,” he says, “she might be the one to take over.” Or the next generation might be led by the son Jordan and his wife Laura are expecting in March. As for names? “His first name will not be Nicholas,” says Jordan, whose formal name is George Nicholas Nicholas. But they’re definitely going to work it in as a middle name. “I have to do that,” he says. “It’s tradition. And I think it’s sort of cool.” For a bit more Nicholas Coffee history and celebration details, visit nicholascoffee.us.