Tu y Yo Café is a coffee shop and small bites café in northeast Pittsburgh. Founder Grace Betancourt-Jones opened the café with two of her adult children in 2019. The name “Tu y Yo,” meaning “You and I” in Spanish, reflects the café’s goal to bring people together over food and drink.
Grace moved to Pittsburgh from Venezuela in 1980 with her mother. Family and culture inspire the menu at Tu y Yo Café, with many of her mother’s recipes featured, offering customers an authentic taste of Latin America. The café also has a small Latin American marketplace selling sweets, snacks, and foods from countries like Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, and Chile.
When starting her business, Grace utilized the services provided by the University of Pittsburgh Small Business Development Center (SBDC). The Pitt SBDC offers consulting and seminars in Spanish, which Grace found helpful.
“Spanish is preferable when receiving the steps and business strategies,” she said.
Grace also faced challenges in finding employees and funding for growth. With help from bilingual business consultant Brent Rondon, she connected with job seekers and financial institutions.
Grace continues to seek new opportunities for her business. She recently attended “Doing Business with Pitt,” an event hosted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence. This annual event provides information on how local businesses can become Pitt vendors or suppliers. Grace is now exploring the possibility of offering Tu y Yo Café products to Pitt stores and participating in university farmers markets.
Grace also supports other local business owners in Pittsburgh. She shares resources and offers help when she can. “We are all in this together. If everyone makes good, we all benefit,” she says.
Tu y Yo Café continues to grow as Grace looks for new opportunities. The café evidences how celebrating cultural background, community support, and hard work can lead to success.