Loretta’s is a café and bakery offering robust sweet and savory Viennoiserie-style pastries, seasonal breakfast and lunch staples, and a specialty coffee program in Philadelphia’s Head House Square neighborhood. From the female-led team — helmed by Kelsey Bush, Sara May, and D’Onna Stubblefield — behind the neighboring Bloomsday and Green Engine Coffee, a pastry program meets specialty coffee service at this new spot opening December 7, 2024. Loretta’s, named for Chef-Owner Kelsey Bush’s grandma, pays homage in both its concept and colorful design to all the “steel magnolias” who have carved their own paths in the hospitality industry.
Loretta’s embraces all-American classics in its seasonal breakfast and lunch staples, and its pastry program. With an air of nostalgia across the menu, most dishes evoke a feeling of your favorite “steel magnolia” whipping you up something from the fridge, but with the execution and dimensional flavor profile of a chef in one of the country’s foremost food cities, thanks to Chef-Owner Kelsey Bush.
A variety of house-made pastries are available daily from the team. Beyond pastries, Loretta’s serves a line-up of breakfast sandwiches and hand pies, alongside some “hot and pressed” lunch sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Can’t-miss pastries include ($4-$10):
- Sticky Cinnamon Buns with cream cheese frosting
- Apple Galette with Oat Streusel (will be updated seasonally)
- Cosmic Brownies
Breakfast menu standouts include ($7-$15):
- Chorizo, Egg, Potato, and Cheese Hand Pies
- Breakfast Hoagie with frittata egg, bacon, banana pepper aioli, and Cooper sharp cheese
- Bagel Sandwich with South Philly cream cheese (a blend of pickled broccoli rabe, peperoncini and pickled red onions), cucumbers, sprouts, and tomato (option to sub baba ganoush to make it vegan)
Lunch items include ($10-$16):
- Spoon Salad with “shredduce” and kale mix, pickled carrots, and marinated chickpeas with the option to add chicken
- Lancaster Italian with mortadella, prosciutto, Lebanon bologna, burrata, and banana-pepper aioli
- Meatloaf Patty Melt with red wine onion jam, thousand Island dressing, sharp cheddar
“Loretta’s is the brain-child of a gal who loves coffee, a girl who grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and another gal who loves pie. Our talented team is thrilled to be expanding in this special neighborhood, and is looking forward to building Loretta’s just down the block from Bloomsday,” said Bush in a statement. “We’re excited to see these two concepts stand together and separately, specifically allowing Bloomsday’s award-winning wine and cocktail program and dinner menu to shine, while Loretta’s will be your favorite cafe and daytime hangout spot,” Bush continued.
To complement Loretta’s food, Bush has teamed up with Beverage Director D’Onna “D” Stubblefield to develop a specialty coffee program similar to Green Engine Co., the team’s first concept. Loretta’s coffee program will feature Rival Bros. Coffee. Beverages beyond coffee include fresh juice and a smattering of fresh-squeezed Ades.
The 16-seat, roughly 600-square foot café and bakery is bright, and embraces an Americana theme. The design incorporates a muted palette with pops of saturated French blue and poppy red, complemented by checkerboard elements, like a tiled monochrome backsplash and hand-painted checkerboard flooring. A colorful entryway greets you and ushers you into the space with red doors, green walls, and hand-laid (by Bush, a Jane of all Trades) multi-color tile flooring. Outfitted with antiques sourced by Bush’s mother from antique shops throughout Pennsylvania, Loretta’s is a welcoming spot for both those who seek quick service, and for those who wish to enjoy the ambiance of the space. In fact, most of the renovation was completed by Bush and her family, from painting to carpentry.
Loretta’s branding, created by Alli Coates, features Bush’s grandmother’s bust as the main logo but an array of submarks bolster the brand. From their signature pinky-swear sign hanging out front to the playful cartoon icons representing the three ladies — Kelsey, D’Onna, and Sara — behind the concept, colorful design is at the core of Loretta’s. Opening retail items include vintage tableware, but branded merch will be available in the months to come.
Loretta’s is located at 410 South 2nd St., Philadelphia, PA 19147 and is open for walk-ins only 7:30AM to 3PM daily.
