Naomi Hoppel’s love of design, aesthetic, and giving back had a major impact in her creation of the Pittsburgh Juice Company. An architect with an interest in adaptive reuse, she fell in love with the renaissance happening in Pittsburgh upon her return from serving in the Peace Corps. In 2013, Naomi redefined her career, embraced entrepreneurship, and brought healthy and wholesome food and drinks to the people of our great city.
Naomi Hoppel’s love for design and the use of space led her to a career in architecture. She earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the profession, although graduating into a difficult job market in the wake of the 2007 – 2008 financial crisis gave her reason to consider alternate options. Naomi had always been interested in volunteering for the Peace Corps, and this seemed like the perfect time to do it. After two years of service in Peru as a community development consultant, she returned home to Pittsburgh.
Naomi expected her time back home to be temporary as she recuperated, evaluated job opportunities, and helped her brother open his yoga studio. Little did she know that she would soon fall in love with all of the great things happening in her hometown. Lawrenceville’s resurgence was in full swing, and she decided that she wanted to be more deeply involved in the community. Naomi played a large part in the redevelopment of her brother’s building at the entrance to the burgeoning neighborhood near the intersection of Penn Avenue and Butler Street. In 2013, she took over the small retail space in the front of the newly refurbished building, and the Pittsburgh Juice Company was born.
If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!
YOU CAN REACH ME AT:
Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano
Phone: 412-336-8247
YOU CAN REACH NAOMI HOPPEL AT:
Website: https://pittsburghjuicecompany.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pittsburghjuice
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pjc.pgh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PGH_Juice