The stars aligned for The Flood City Café 

By: Stephanie Kalina-Metzger

To hear Kristy Hagan tell it, the stars aligned just so to enable her to take a brave leap into the restaurant industry and purchase The Flood City Café in Johnstown.  

“I worked in the mental health industry for 20 years while working at restaurants and bars, which I loved, but I eventually wanted to be my own boss — so when I learned that The Flood City Café was up for sale, I knew it was the right time,” said Hagan, stating that the former owners used their marketing expertise to create an enticing video about the place.  

“That was just one aspect that excited me, along with the fact that it was turnkey and had a well-established, great reputation,” Hagan said. 

Hagan, who grew up in the Johnstown area, assumed ownership in May of 2019.  

“My goal was to keep it as it was to get my footing and understand the needs of the customers,” said Hagan, who was just getting her bearings when the pandemic hit. “That was a challenge, as I was just learning how to be a boss and managing the day-in-and-day-out aspects of the business. There are so many things that go on behind the scenes that people don’t understand.”  

Customers who enjoy coffee regularly return to The Flood City Café for the hand-crafted espresso drinks, along with lattes and smoothies. The super-fresh coffee is sourced from Common Place Coffee in Pittsburgh, roasted on Tuesday, delivered on Friday and served on Saturday. 

Casual breakfast and lunch items are also on offer, and the café’s décor has been described as something one would see at a café in New York City, with soaring 22-foot-high ceilings and a cozy fireplace pressed into service in the winter.  

One thing that makes the café particularly standout? A convenient drive-thru allows customers to order their food and drink to go. “It’s the only one in Johnstown,” points out Hagan.  

Hagan said it’s been a dream to operate a business in the region.  

“I grew up in Hornerstown and always loved Johnstown. I wanted to come back and be part of the revitalization,” she explained.  

Now, that dream has become a reality. To learn more about Flood City Café, visit https://www.floodcitycafe.com. 

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger is a freelance writer with a focus on food/drink, business, travel, entertainment, and hospitality. She can be reached at steflink01@comcast.net.