The Bridge coffee shop aims to bring Levittown community together one cup at a time

A new coffee shop in Levittown hopes to fill more than just your cup by providing a gathering place centered around the spirit of giving.

“The goodwill of humans are already coming out within this space,” said Ross Manders, pastor of Restoration Church in Levittown.

Generosity and community were the goals of his church when they decided to launch The Bridge, a new coffee shop which opened in the former 7-11 building on Emilie-Bristol Road last month.

“Our hope is that we would connect people to one another and a purpose greater than themselves,” he said.

What to expect at the new Levittown coffee shop

The coffee shop provides a relaxing space with plenty of comfortable seating, including cozy couches, small and large tables and a conference room in the back.

Further adding to the inviting appeal of the shop, each of the six walls are covered with murals depicting local bridges, thanks to photographer Michele Freiling and Presto Tape in Bensalem, who donated the wall graphics.

Espressos, cappuccinos, drip coffee, seasonal drinks, lattes, hot chocolate, steamed milks, sodas, seltzers, teas, cold brews and iced coffees are all on the menu, along with breakfast items, such as pastries, yogurt parfaits, bagels and croissants.

In the future, The Bridge plans to expand its menu to include breakfast sandwiches, paninis, sandwiches and soups.

Its hours are Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

How does The Bridge coffee shop plan to help the Lower Bucks community?

In the spirit of giving, 100% of the coffee shop’s profits will be donated to local nonprofits in the Lower Bucks area.

“Every person that comes knows their purchase is going towards an organization that is doing something good,” said Manders, noting that a board will determine each month where the profits will go. “We want to partner with those organizations that are already doing good, that are helping those in need and are providing resources to those that may not have them elsewhere.”

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The shop also features a Pay it Forward Board, where customers can gift a purchase to someone they’ve never met, such as the next teacher or police officer who comes in, a student studying for finals or someone having a bad day.

“The board is completely full right now. It’s great to see the generosity of our community already coming out,” Manders said.

Will its customers be inundated with religion?

While Manders hopes the shop’s mission of community and giving will organically connect people to god, he said there is no intention to push god or religion onto anyone.

“We just want to meet our community where they are and build relationships with our community, knowing that most of that most of them will never step inside our church,” he said.

How did Restoration Church fund The Bridge?

In order to launch The Bridge, $120,000 was raised through a larger $400,000 capital campaign, called The Building Bridges Campaign, that also went towards funding Restoration Church projects and missions.

Go: 6800 Emilie-Bristol Road, Levittown; thebridge.coffee

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This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: The Bridge, a new community-centered coffee shop, opens in Levittown