Tag Archives: House of Vegans

The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

February 12, 2021 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley Gittens

A rendering of a 150-unit apartment and retail building that may be coming to Midtown Harrisburg.

It’s Valentine’s Day weekend, which means you might be busy cooking up something special for that someone special. When you have a break, catch up on the local news of the week, as we have all our stories listed and linked below.

The Black community in Harrisburg has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, our magazine story reported. The virus carved a gash in leadership structures and within families. Those left behind are finding resiliency in the community and plumbing the legacies of lost loved ones for inspiration.

The Edward S. Finkelstein Jewish Film Festival will be virtual for the second year in a row due to the pandemic. Eleven films will stream virtually from mid-February to late March, our magazine story reported.

Our February podcast guests explore the vital role books are playing in our lives. We hear from Karen Cullings of the Dauphin County Library System and Stefan Hawkins of Good Brothas Book Café. Listen, here.

Good Brotha’s Book Café recently opened in Midtown Harrisburg, our magazine story reported. The coffee shop owner strives for representation for people of color by highlighting African American literature and art.

GreenWorks Development, along with Baltimore-based Washington Place Equities, unveiled a 150-unit apartment and retail building for Midtown. They plan to construct a 135,000-square-foot, four-story building at 320 Reily St., our online story reported.

Harrisburg is purchasing a former M&T Bank building on N. 7^th Street to use as additional office space for city employees. They will renovate the building for use by the engineering and traffic departments, our reporting found.

Home sales in January were generally flat in the Harrisburg area, while price appreciation continued to be strong. Our online story has the specifics for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.

House of Vegans, a restaurant in Midtown Harrisburg has closed for now, with hopes to reopen, our online story reported. Owners are asking for the community’s help with fundraising in order to get back to serving their vegan soul food.

A Lancaster couple recounted their unique love story in a “Modern Love” essay for The New York Times. The pair, who have been married for seven years, found love thanks to a voodoo priest and a rooster, the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, and a cholera epidemic that followed. Read more in our magazine story.

Our resident chef, Rosemary, has whipped up the perfect treat for Valentine’s Day. Click here, to view her recipe for a chocolate amaretti cake sure to melt in your mouth.

Sara Bozich brings on all the Valentine’s Day feels with her list of ways to celebrate the holiday of love. Check out her Weekend Roundup for ways to spend the day.

Our wine columnist, Steve Juliana, showcases noble red wines—quaffs from grapes that have spread all over the world, while also historically being among the finest and most desirable. In his February column, he recommends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Pinot Noir.

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One for the Record Books: TheBurg Podcast, February 2021

February 11, 2021 | by Karen Hendricks

This year has been one for the record books.

It’s also been a year when many people have turned to books—for escape and education, insights and information.

But when you talk about the role books have played in our lives—especially during the past year—you find the conversation also touches on pandemic pivots, African American literature, Black-owned businesses and the role of libraries within communities.

The February episode of TheBurg Podcast pulls two people from the pages of our February magazine, to expand upon their stories, in their own words:

Karen Cullings, executive director of the Dauphin County Library System (from the magazine story “Pandemic Plot Twists”)
Stefan Hawkins, who recently launched two Black-owned businesses on Harrisburg’s Third Street, including Good Brotha’s Book Café (from the magazine story “Cup of Culture”)

Lawrance Binda, editor of TheBurg, shares a positive, “developing” story, in this month’s “Most Harrisburg Thing.”

TheBurg Podcast is hosted and produced by Karen Hendricks, a lifelong journalist who also dabbles in PR/Marketing. Visit her website here.

TheBurg is a monthly community magazine based in Harrisburg, Pa.; Lawrance Binda, co-publisher/editor.

Interested in sponsoring TheBurg Podcast? Contact Lauren (lmills@theburgnews.com)

Meet some of the Harrisburg area’s most fascinating people, and hear their own authentic stories, expanded from every month’s magazine, on TheBurg Podcast—because there’s always “more to the story.”

House of Vegans restaurant in Harrisburg closes, starts crowdfunding with hopes of reopening

February 9, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

House of Vegans restaurant in Midtown Harrisburg has closed.

A relatively new restaurant that successfully got people excited about vegan food has tabled its operations–at least for now.

Due to financial challenges, owners of House of Vegan’s restaurant in Midtown Harrisburg have temporarily closed up shop.

“We are greatly saddened by having to close, but it’s necessary,” said Stefan Hawkins, who co-owns the restaurant with his partner Laquana Barber, in a text message. “We thank everyone who has supported us and been here since day one.”

In a press release on Tuesday, Hawkins said that House of Vegans may look for another location if they can raise enough money through a GoFundMe crowdfunding campaign to help them get back up and running.

On Jan. 24, he created the GoFundMe page with the hopes of getting enough to reopen and install a grill. As of Tuesday, it had received $2,400.

House of Vegans opened at 1426 N. 3^rd St. in July 2020, stating that they were the city’s first Black-owned vegan restaurant. They specialized in vegan soul food—dairy-free mac and cheese, yams, soy drumsticks and their popular meat-free “Slap Burger.”

Hawkins said that they signed their lease before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but opened during it. Like many other businesses, he said that it took a toll on House of Vegans. According to Hawkins, business declined by 70% from November to January, making it difficult to order products, as well as pay bills and employees.

However, Hawkins just recently opened Good Brotha’s Book Café across the street from the restaurant. The coffee shop has a focus on African American literature and art. He said that the café may begin to carry some select House of Vegans food items.

“We want to continue to provide our customers with a great vegan dining experience,” Hawkins said.

For more information on House of Vegans, visit their Facebook page.

Hear more from Stefan Hawkins on TheBurg Podcast’s upcoming February episode, available this Friday, February 12. It’s an in-depth conversation about the motivation, along with the ups and downs, of becoming a Black-owned business owner.

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Cup of Culture: Tasty coffee, inspiring reads at Good Brotha’s Book Café

January 29, 2021 | by Maddie Conley Gittens

Stefan Hawkins never owned a business before this past summer—now he owns two.

First came House of Vegans, the soul food joint that challenged perceptions of vegan food and gained national attention. We non-vegans realized zero-meat fried chicken is possible and wondered how non-dairy mac and cheese can taste so good.

But, while customers lined up at House of Vegans, owners Stefan Hawkins and Laquana Barber had another plan in the works. Why operate just one business on the 1400-block of N. 3rd Street?

Hawkins and Barber opened Good Brotha’s Book Café just over six months after opening their first restaurant across the street.

“After I saw the success of [House of Vegans] and how the community got behind us, I was like ‘hey, I can get into this a little more,'” Hawkins said.

Hawkins wants to do more than just serve a good cup of coffee—he wants to fill a gap he sees in the city. Good Brotha’s will promote African American literature and art.

Shelves with books for sale line the walls of the café displaying the work of Ta-Nehisi Coates, Ibram X. Kendi, Toni Morrison and other Black authors.

“Representation means a lot to the Black community,” Hawkins said. “Our community needs somewhere to go, something to call our own.”

New Energy

At any good coffee shop, it’s all about the vibe. With some neo-soul playing in the background, Hawkins hopes the café will be a place for people to hang out, enjoy a cup and read a book.

But a vibe must go hand-in-hand with a great mug of joe. As if starting the café weren’t enough, Hawkins began his own coffee brand, Fifth Acres Coffee Company, to serve at Good Brotha’s.

The name recognizes the areas of the city where he grew up—N. 5th Street and Hall Manor in South Harrisburg, sometimes referred to as South Acres.

Hawkins works with a roaster to produce the coffee, which is sourced from African countries. He eventually hopes to learn how to roast it himself.

“I’m trying to bring something new and energetic to the community,” he said.

Behind the counter, steaming milk and brewing coffee is barista Zinnia Moore. She previously worked for a shop that served Starbucks Coffee, but is excited to now work at Good Brotha’s with its unique atmosphere.

“The morning coffee can change your whole day,” Moore said. “I can change someone’s day. I get to interact with customers, and I love meeting different people.”

She’s down for experimenting with new coffee and tea combinations and has a few new creations up her sleeve right now. Become a regular, and Moore might just have your order ready when you walk in.

Besides coffee, Good Brotha’s serves baked goods from Harrisburg-based Cece’s Cake Shop, owned by Cecilia Davis. Smoothies and House of Vegans’ fresh juices are available, as well.

Opening House of Vegans this past summer was Hawkins’ first business venture. In the past months, he has grown in confidence as an entrepreneur and learned a lot about owning a restaurant.

“I’ve learned that customer service is paramount to make a good business thrive,” he said. “We put customers first. I wouldn’t have been able to open two locations without them.”

Vision & Vibes

Bryan “Prolifik” Hickman has been a big supporter of his friend Hawkins and his businesses from the beginning.

“When he started House of Vegans, the first thing I wanted to do is support him,” he said.

Hickman decided to help the best way he knew how—through art.

Under the name “Prolifik,” Hickman creates large canvas paintings inspired by African and African American culture.

Two original pieces hang in House of Vegans, and now two more decorate Good Brotha’s. The paintings in the café are for sale. Hickman sees the collaboration as a way for the friends to support each other’s businesses.

“With everything going on this year with social injustice, there was more importance of supporting Black-owned businesses,” he said.

Through highlighting Black culture, literature and art at Good Brotha’s, Hawkins hopes to inspire young African American kids, he said. He also wants to serve as a role model to encourage young people to become business owners.

“I want this to be a place to relax and chill, but also get inspiration,” he said.

One way he plans to make that happen is through a book club that the café will host. Promoting literacy and education is important to Hawkins.

Even with Good Brotha’s opening, Hawkins is already thinking about more House of Vegans locations and determining his next move.

“2020 was good for me,” he said. “2021 will be even better.”

Good Brotha’s Book Café is located at 1419 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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Year in Review: TheBurg’s most popular stories of 2020, click by click

December 28, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda

It’s that time again.

Each year, during the final week, we take a look back to our most-read online stories and share what got the most clicks, views and reads.

We post all of our copy online, including our magazine features. However, our most popular online articles tend to be those that we publish as web-only.

And so it was for 2020. The most-read list was dominated by local business and development stories, with a heavy dose of COVID thrown in (more on that below), resulting in the most page views in our 12-year history.

So, assuming you can stomach a quick review of this universally loathed year, we present our most-read online stories, in reverse order.

No. 10. Poetic Departure. In April, our arts writer, Bob MacGinnes, penned a blog post that showed just how fast life can change. A few months earlier, he had written with great admiration of local poet Joe O’Connor after attending a book reading at One Good Woman in Camp Hill. O’Connor died several months later, an early victim of the coronavirus pandemic. Bob’s subsequent tribute to Joe was widely shared, resulting in our No. 10 story of the year.

No. 9. Vitriol & Video. Outside of COVID, only one bona fide hard news story broke into our top-10 list this year—an early November confrontation between a Shipoke resident and a city police officer following a noise complaint. Mayor Eric Papenfuse released police bodycam footage of the incident, saying it exonerated the officer. However, some residents believed differently and circulated a petition calling for the officer’s ouster. Late in the year, several neighborhood groups joined forces to appeal for understanding and ask residents to try to resolve disputes without involving the police.

No. 8. FireHouse Redux. For years, the FireHouse was one of the most popular restaurants in Harrisburg, located in the historic Hope Fire Station on N. 2^nd Street. It closed in mid-2019, but, after some updating, reopened last summer under new ownership. We broke the story of the reopening, including what the new operators said they planned to offer to customers.

No. 7. Fit for a Queen. If we’ve learned anything from our annual lists, it’s this–Harrisburg likes its food. Every year, restaurant stories take at least a few top spots. Case in point: an early January story on Queen’s BBQ & Southern Cuisine, as it opened for business. A few months later, we doubled down by publishing a magazine feature on Queen’s, but it was this original news story that scored big page views with online readers.

No. 6. Hudson Revival. Development proposals often rank high on our annual list, and so it was for a June story that the long-blighted Hudson Building had been bought. New owner Adam Maust told TheBurg that he wants to turn the cavernous structure into a mixed-use building, with proposed amenities for the Camp Curtin community.

No. 5. Who Moved My Beer? At about this time last year, we learned that Harrisburg’s homegrown brewery, Zeroday Brewing Co., planned a big move to the 900-block of N. 3^rd Street. We finally broke the story on Leap Day, not knowing that, soon enough, this project, along with the rest of life, would come to a screeching halt. The good news is that the build-out revved back up in late spring and now is slated for completion in early 2021.

No. 4. Eat Your Veggies. A big shout-out to Stefan Hawkins, who’s responsible both for this popular story about his new restaurant, House of Vegans (along with co-owner Laquana Barber, also pictured), and also for our No. 2 story below. This story was the only magazine feature that we published in 2020 that also made our top-10 most-viewed online list. What else do you have cooking, Stefan?

No. 3. Street Eats. As both the weather and the pandemic heated up in late May, the city and the Harrisburg Downtown Improvement District announced plans to close down much of 2^nd Street for outdoor dining on Saturday nights. This news story was the first of several on the welcome al fresco event, which proved a popular option through September as restaurants remained closed.

No. 2. A Cup & a Read. An early October news story featured a plan for a Black-owned coffee/tea shop and book venue called Good Brotha’s Book Café in Midtown Harrisburg. Expect the grand opening in early 2021, again thanks to serial entrepreneur Stefan Hawkins.

No. 1. Nothing but COVID. This year, we had to break our normal ranking rules, actually smash them to bits. In truth, seven of our top 10 stories (and 15 of the top 20) were all coronavirus-related, mostly detailing the grim daily numbers during the first few months of the pandemic. We’re wrapping up those stories into this single entry for the sake of simplicity—and everyone’s sanity. But, in case you really want to read our actual, No. 1 news story for the year, here it is from early April, some 600,000 diagnoses ago, when we were shocked–shocked–that PA could possibly have 10,000 total COVID cases.

Honorable Mention: In the news biz, a late-breaking story sometimes ruins the best of plans, and with just three days left in the year, TheBurg reported on Monday that a Harrisburg resident has a plan to turn the local landmark, “Carpets and Draperies” building, into a small apartment building. This story quickly gained thousands of page views and could break into the top 10 by New Year’s Eve, earning it an honorable mention here for 2020.

For a different take on 2020, our editor will have his annual list of top local news stories in the January magazine, which drops on Dec. 30. Does his list differ from that of our readers, who voted with their clicks? Return on Wednesday to find out!

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Good Brotha’s Book Café coming to Midtown, promoting Black literature

October 1, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Owner Stefan Hawkins stands in front of what will be Good Brotha’s Book Café in Midtown come November.

“When you see a Black man doing good things in the community, you call him a good brotha,” Stefan Hawkins explained. “It’s a term of endearment.”

This is how Hawkins chose the name for his new coffee shop coming in November to Midtown Harrisburg—Good Brotha’s Book Café.

The café will be the 30-year-old entrepreneur’s second business venture along with his fiancé Laquana Barber, their first being House of Vegans restaurant in Midtown.

“We were the first Black-owned vegan restaurant in Harrisburg, and now we will be the first Black-owned coffee shop in Harrisburg,” Hawkins said. “After I saw the success of House of Vegans and how the community got behind us, I was like, I can get into this entrepreneur thing.”

Good Brotha’s will open in the former location of Dalicia Bakery, which closed on Wednesday. The coffee shop will be just across the street from House of Vegans.

Hawkins hopes the shop will be a place of education and discussion. He plans to fill bookshelves with African American literature for guests to read over a cup of coffee or to purchase.

“I’m exposing the Harrisburg community to Black authors that they might not have heard about,” he said.

Hawkins said that he will also showcase local African American artists at Good Brotha’s. Old school neo-soul as background music will top off the shop’s vibe.

The shop won’t require too much work, Hawkins said—just some paint, flooring work and bookshelves.

The shop’s signature coffee will be from Hawkins’ own coffee brand called Fifth Acres Coffee Company. The name is a tribute to the areas of the city he grew up in—N. 5^th Street and Hall Manor in South Harrisburg, sometimes referred to as South Acres.

He sources the coffee from African countries and works with a roaster to produce it. One day, Hawkins hopes to learn how to roast it himself.

In addition to coffee, Hawkins said that his shop will carry food from Dalicia Bakery, which is moving to Mechanicsburg. They will have baked goods, breakfast and lunch items.

He plans to include a smoothie bar as well, stocked with House of Vegans’ fresh juices.

In August, Hawkins and two friends started a book club of 27 men in Harrisburg. He has already learned a lot from the club, and it has given him an avenue to do something he loves—reading.

Hawkins said that his book club will meet at Good Brotha’s, and he hopes other clubs will form.

“I want to push literacy in the Harrisburg community,” he said. “Why not push education in business?”

A Harrisburg native, Hawkins hopes to inspire others from the Black community, especially kids, to become business owners.

“Harrisburg is predominantly Black on paper, but we don’t own anything,” he said. “You can own your own business. I don’t have a college degree, and I own businesses.”

Good Brotha’s Book Café will be located at 1419 N. 3^rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

September 18, 2020 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Conley

Jordan Dandy stands on the corner Front and Forster Streets with the message “You’re so important.”

It’s Harrisburg Takeout Month! Order in from your favorite restaurant and then catch up on the news you may have missed from this past week, listed and linked below.

“Bike to Work Week” starts on Monday in Harrisburg, and the city is setting up pop-up bike lanes to encourage bicycling. The initiative is part of the city’s “Vision Zero” plan to decrease pedestrian and cyclist fatalities, our online story reports.

Capital region arts organizations will get a share of grant money distributed statewide, it was announced last week. Eight Dauphin County organizations will receive funding, including the Susquehanna Art Museum and the Harrisburg Symphony Association, our online story reports.

CONTACT Helpline is celebrating 50 years of assisting people in need of emotional support and connections to human services. Check out the story of the organization that has provided a listening ear to so many.

COVID-19 cases remained stable in Pennsylvania over the past week, our online story reports. They did, however, spike in counties with large college campuses.

Essential workers in Harrisburg may see some appreciation coming their way. The city proposed a $2,500 pay bonus for those who worked every day without the option to telecommute, our reporting found.

Gamut Theatre is safely bringing back live performances, beginning with “Love Hurts!” Our online story gives you a sneak peek into the plot of this hilarious show.

Harrisburg City Council proposed amendments to a bill that would establish a police advisory board. Changes came following public demands that the board have more power, our online story reports.

Harrisburg restaurants have found ways to adapt in the ever-changing times of COVID-19. Our magazine story explains how some local favorites have changed and survived.

Harrisburg University’s e-sports team is the subject of a new locally produced documentary. The film showcases HU’s efforts to become a major player in the e-sports industry, our online story reports.

I-81 is the topic of discussion for regional transportation planners who are seeking public input on how to improve the highway. Our online story has more on the initiative that looks to update 12 focus areas along the road.

Jordan Dandy has been standing on the corner of Front and Forster streets for two weeks with the message, “I value you,” written on poster board. For many, he has become a bright spot in their morning commute. Check out his story in our online article.

House of Vegans is one of only a few vegan restaurants in the Harrisburg area. Our magazine story gives you a taste of the owners’ passion for healthy eating and the reason they opened their new shop.

Residential real estate is looking good as home sales and prices were up in August. Our online story has the numbers for Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties.

Sara Bozich is getting ready for fall by watching football, cooking a pot roast and heading to the Broad Street Market. Check out her list of fun things to do this weekend, including pick-your-own-apples and a Pumpkin Palooza.

State Street is slated for major changes to improve safety and make the road more pedestrian-friendly. Harrisburg city engineers spoke with the community on Tuesday about their plans to reduce traffic lanes and increase crosswalks, our online story reports.

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No Meat, No Problem: Black-owned vegan restaurant breaks barriers and promotes health through soul food

August 31, 2020 | by Maddie Conley

Laquana Barber and Stefan Hawkins

On opening day, the House of Vegans restaurant had a line down N. 3rd Street. At times, it wrapped around the corner.

Customers posted about it on social media, taking pictures of the food and the line they gladly waited on to get it. Inching closer to the door, they endured the July heat.

“What are we in line for?” one lady even asked after stumbling upon it and blindly jumping in.

Owners Laquana Barber and Stefan Hawkins were feeling the love.

Not only was this their first experience running a restaurant, but they were accomplishing something unprecedented.

“We are the first black-owned vegan restaurant in Harrisburg,” Barber said. “We are making history.”

On top of that, House of Vegans is one of only a few vegan restaurants in the metro area.

If you had asked Barber a year ago, she wouldn’t have even thought about opening a restaurant. Over three years ago, she wasn’t even a vegan. But since then, the couple’s lives have changed dramatically, and now they’re breaking barriers and cooking good food along the way.

Bringing It Home

Barber had always been an athlete. She participated in sports in high school and ran track in college, but, over the years, her asthma was a barrier. She used at least two different inhalers every day.

“I could never perform to the best of my ability,” she said.

At 20, Barber started reading about health and natural remedies. She went as far as fasting for 40 days. After that, she found herself not needing her inhalers and concluded that her health had to be tied to what she was eating. And so, she went vegan.

Not long after, Hawkins had a similar realization. He was working full-time at McDonald’s, getting a behind-the-scenes look and becoming less and less interested in being a carnivore.

“American culture views that every meal has to have meat with it when it does not,” he said. “Since I’ve been vegan, it’s been the best part of my life.”

The couple grew closer over their shared interest in health and added a son, Ke’Or, to the family in 2019.

Barber and Hawkins frequently took trips out of Harrisburg for date nights, visiting as many vegan restaurants as they could find. Still, they couldn’t help but wish their hometown had more options for them. Hawkins thought, “Why can’t we do it?”

After a lot of trial and error in their kitchen, the couple started cooking vegan food for family, friends and neighbors in Allison Hill. Around 90% of the people they served weren’t vegan, they said, but everyone loved the food.

“Vegan isn’t a big word in the African American community,” Hawkins said. “We want to educate the culture and the people. We can be vegan and still eat good and hearty.”

Health, Flavor

After finding a location in Midtown, the couple opened House of Vegans in July and started cooking for the masses. Their food combines the health of vegan food with the flavor of soul food.

Hawkins’ creation, the “Slap Burger,” has become a crowd favorite. It has the juicy, drippy, sauciness of a beef burger so that you can hardly tell the difference.

Otherwise, Barber does much of the cooking. She makes fried cauliflower, soy “chick’n drums,” barbecue jackfruit, yams, baked mac and cheese and collard greens, to name a few offerings. None of their food contains animal products or byproducts, but is completely plant-based. They also hand press their own juices.

“I always had the mindset that it’s vegan food, and it would be bland,” said Yodit Kidane, a friend of Barber’s and possibly House of Vegan’s biggest fan. “[Barber] always spoke of her vegan lifestyle, but I was always like, eh, that’s not for me. I finally tried it, and I was hooked.”

Kidane has been eating the couple’s food since they were making it out of their house. The “Slap Burger” has become her “go-to.”

Even before they opened on N. 3rd Street, Kidane was telling friends and co-workers about the vegan food she fell in love with and the fresh juices that were healthy yet delicious.

“It’s so good that I want the next person to have the opportunity to try it,” she said.

Barber and Hawkins appreciated her support so much they named a juice after her nickname—the “Yo-Yo Drank.”

Of course, Kidane was there to support her friends on opening day for lunch and dinner.

Seeing friends, family, community members and even people who drove hours lined up at House of Vegans had Barber in tears that first day.

“Being Black and opening a business is not easy,” Barber said. “It was a humbling moment [opening day] because we had so much support.”

House of Vegans is located at 1426 N. 3rd St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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