June 7: Roasted and Lit

By: Lucy Zhou

We first visited Roasted for brunch because one of the three owners, Shelli Topping, is a female entrepreneur who represents the successful and strong sector of business owners that are women. After our meal, we were lucky enough to be able to talk with her and ask her about her journey owning a restaurant, her motivations and inspiration, and her thoughts on the SouthSide community.

Roasted is a small restaurant owned by Shelli Topping on 22 W 4th St., Bethlehem, PA. It offers a variety of breakfast and lunch foods that have gluten free, vegetarian and vegan options.

Roasted was once called Blue Sky Cafe, and Topping worked as a manager there for several years before the owner decided to let the cafe close. Topping said she had always wanted to own a restaurant, so this was the perfect opportunity for her to take over and revamp the space. In six months, she was able to recover and regain the business, bringing over employees and regular customers from Blue Sky. She altered the menu slightly, but kept some of the original popular dishes. Topping said her approach was to welcome any and all customers, regardless of their appearance. Her goal was to “help people and make them happy.” Roasted has a diverse body of customers, ranging from musicians to business people to students.

Topping makes sure the business is inclusive both externally and internally. She’s always encouraging customers to visit other local businesses like Deja Brew, Lit, Sagra Beans and Bonn. The owners of Bonn actually worked at Blue Sky while they were trying to get their business started. Topping said the businesses in SouthSide are always trying to support and help each other in a collaborative effort for the economy. The local support is also shown through flyers posted on the restaurant’s windows and bulletin boards that promote different events going on around the Lehigh Valley. Within Roasted, the three owners and employees all help each other when they need an extra hand. Topping is the full-time manager, while her husband Chris is the kitchen manager and Derek Wallen is in charge of the logistics (payroll, taxes, etc.). The kitchen has an open structure that customers can see how much and how hard the employees work.


Our next stop was Lit Coffee Roastery and Bakeshop. The business is known for its advocacy for equity and social justice. Decorations in the coffeeshop promoted feminism and equality. As a relatively new establishment, it sets itself apart with what all that it offers: baked goods, sandwiches, farm-sourced quality coffee, drinks and live music. Lit also has three owners: Melanie Lino, Matt Hengeveld and Dan Taylor. While Lino is more focused on the bakery and arts and crafts, Hengeveld and Taylor specialize in the coffee. Lit therefore combines these two businesses, Made by Lino and Monocacy Coffee Co. to provide a unique and diverse experience for customers.

A sign promoting feminism decorates a table in Lit Coffee Roastery and Bakeshop on 26 E 3rd St., Bethlehem, PA. The coffeeshop strives to be inclusive and welcoming with its decor and business.

We talked to an employee, who said Lino often brings in different art, pop-ups and bands to liven up the coffeeshop. The artwork changes every so often with various themes. Lit puts on music shows and works with other businesses such as Domaci and Bonn to keep a close-knit community. The employee said the business tries to keep it as inclusive as possible, maintaining a friendly and good working environment and atmosphere. We noticed that there were also flyers posted on the windows to support other local businesses and events.

Lit Coffee Roastery and Bakeshop has a table set up with arts and crafts from Made by Lino. Melanie Lino is one of the owners of Lit and is responsible for the bakery portion.
This colorful and cozy area greets customers at the entrance of Lit. Customers are welcome to sit comfortably on the couches and feel at home with the decorations and available books, magazines and coloring books.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We highly recommend both of these businesses if you are looking for some good food or a coffee to energize your day. Support your local businesses and community while also supporting and advocating for inclusivity in the workplace and businesses! 🙂

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