The last days (for now) at the City Cafe, Downtown

Pittsburgh Revolution / Steve Mellon

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Emil Lester's coffee shop was a uniquely Pittsburgh place that attracted a small but loyal clientelle. It lived on Market Square for exactly a year and a day. Lester wanted people to sit and drink coffee from porcelain mugs, to meet others, to talk and share ideas and tell stories. Quite often those things -- and more -- happened. On this day, a young man with an Australian wind instrument called a didgeridoo stopped by. But on many occasions, Lester lamented the legions of people who walked quickly past his front window carrying paper coffee cups from Starbucks. Lester's lease expired March 31. He plans to reopen a new, more romantic version of City Cafe at 45th and Butler Streets in Lawrenceville on June 1.

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About Pittsburgh Revolution
Post-Gazette staff photographer Steve Mellon set out to capture Pittsburgh from all angles. Using a tripod and his digital camera, he took numerous photos and then stitched them together using software.

Comments & suggestions
We hope that you enjoy this project. Is there a place unique to the region that you'd like us to consider for Pittsburgh Revolution? Send a note to Steve Mellon. Comments are welcome too.