Known for high-quality in-house foods and a welcoming atmosphere, Cafe Somore offers a unique fit for Harrison City.
Owner Justin Stull, a Jeannette native, partnered with his wife Amy Stull to open the business.
“We were wanting to do breakfast and lunch, and Harrison City needed that. A lot of people told me there are too many pizza shops,” Stull said.
The location was previously Aiello’s Pizzeria LLC, then Hometown Pizzeria, which opened in April of 2023 and closed in September.
Fox’s Pizza and Pizza Hut are about a block away. An Extra Slice of New York, Warrior Pizza, Brooklyn’s Pizza and Lucci’s Pizza and Pasta are also all pizza options within five minutes of Cafe Somore.
“People were wanting more fresh cooking, homestyle local food,” Stull said. Options like the Zucchini Bread French Toast are made in-house, and Stull said he picks up fresh eggs nearly every other day from Delmont. Cafe Somore also offers a variety of coffees and teas.
“The coffees are to die for,” cook Abigale Shuey said.
As an experienced restaurant owner and chef, Stull is comfortable fulfilling his role.
While growing up in Jeannette, he worked at Westmoreland Country Club as a dishwasher, which sparked his love for cooking at 13.
“I started doing dishes at the [Westmoreland Country] club, and I never left,” Stull said.
Stull attended Westmoreland County Community College, where he completed his apprenticeship at Westmoreland Country Club, Denunzio’s, Chesterfield’s Restaurant and other Italian restaurants.
Before moving back to the area in October, Stull co-owned a Philly cheesesteak shop located in downtown Erie called North Row Philly. In 2023, Stull also opened Bricks American Steakhouse across the street. Bricks offered high-class meats with menu items like halibut and shrimp.
“I knew I wanted another restaurant. We started looking, and we came across this spot and loved it,” Stull said.
With this new restaurant, Stull hopes to form a sense of community in the area.
“We would like to have people come in and grab fresh-baked items and go off, but also to be able to come in and have a really good meal,” Stull said.
Cafe Somore offers breakfast meals like Egg al Forno for $18, lunch options like a Somore Smash featuring two Angus beef patties with steak fries for $19 and A La Carte items like a buttermilk pancake for $4.50.
Across the street is also Sweet Buzz Bean & Bistro, a coffee-centered cafe with breakfast and lunch menus.
“I didn’t really try to compete with Sweet Buzz. My menu is totally different. I’m doing everything in-house and fresh,” Stull said.
Stull pickles his own cucumbers and onions, and his cinnamon rolls, hamburgers, sausage patties and zucchini bread are all made in-house.
Though Cafe Somore is currently open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, Stull said his hours may expand in the future.
“I’m told I have to be open for Friday night football,” Stull said with a smile.
The most challenging aspect for Stull has been finding employees. After starting on Facebook and Craigslist, Stull eventually turned to Indeed, which was a more expensive option.
Three Penn-Trafford students are now employed at Cafe Somore. Junior Abbey Krier works as a barista and hostess, while freshmen Avery Echard and Addie Price work as waitresses.
“I was in need of a job, and it was in the heart of Penn-Trafford,” said Krier, who found the job through a social media post.
Krier and Echard noted the number of familiar faces that walk in each day.
“My favorite part is getting to talk to people and be very interactive with them because they’re all very nice,” Echard said.
Cafe Somore will leave you wanting some more of their fresh food.
“Just give us a try,” Stull said. “We’re doing something that nobody else is really doing around here. A lot of places are more Sysco and use the big companies right out of the bags. I’m trying not to do that.”
Cafe Somore is located at 1002 Walnut Street.