By Lisa Gage
In the heart of downtown Johnstown, the 1907 landmark historic Eureka Building is one of Johnstown’s most beloved historic treasures. Located at 19 S. Parish Ave., it is also the home of two popular local dining destinations: Black Sheep Coffee and Crepes, and Dominic’s Hometown Pizza.
Owned and operated by the Bachman family, the adjacent businesses offer distinctly different menus while sharing a commitment to quality food, warm hospitality and community involvement. Black Sheep is a known gathering spot for business and social meetings, while Dominic’s brings families out for New York-style pizza.
Amy and Jake Bachman have been married for two decades. They decided to settle in Johnstown, where they had strong family roots and because they loved its small-town community charm. While working in finance and raising two small children, Bachman saw an opportunity for a different kind of eatery in Johnstown. The decision to serve crepes was inspired by her own passion for cooking them, turning her personal favorite into one of the café’s signature menu items.
While the two restaurants share the same historic Eureka Building and ownership, they serve different roles in downtown Johnstown. Black Sheep opens for breakfast at 7 a.m., serving specialty coffee drinks, breakfast sandwiches, and sweet and savory crepes. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the café offers an expanded lunch menu that includes subs, deli sandwiches, fruit smoothies, specialty sodas, as well as beer, wine and cocktails.
Dominic’s is a lunch and dinner destination, open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., serving pizza throughout the afternoon and evening. The two businesses work together in a way that few restaurants can. Beginning at 11 a.m., customers dining at Black Sheep can order a pizza from Dominic’s and have it delivered directly to their table, allowing them to enjoy Dominic’s menu alongside Black Sheep’s craft coffee, beer, wine and cocktail offerings. Black Sheep also offers outdoor seating.
“We took over Dominic’s Pizza in 2019, and it all came about pretty organically while running our business in the same building,” Bachman said. “When the previous owners were ready to retire, they approached us about taking over the pizza shop. Since we were already in the building and had built a relationship with them, it felt like a natural fit and a special opportunity.
“One thing that was important to us was keeping what people already loved about Dominic’s, which marked its 40th anniversary in Johnstown this year. It ended up being a very seamless transition. The staff stayed the same, the recipes stayed the same, and we were able to continue offering the New York-style pizza the community had come to enjoy while building on the hometown feel that’s important to us.”
Community involvement is something important to the Bachmans. Black Sheep serves as a community hub where it’s common to see business meetings, moms gathering after school drop-off, students studying, remote workers, and families and friends catching up after games. They also host networking groups, community organizations, homeschool meetups and Bible studies.
The Bachmans love being part of what’s happening in town and finding ways to connect with the community. They often tie into local events, festivals and school activities through themed drink specials, seasonal menu items and promotions. They also offer private venue rentals, hosting all kinds of gatherings and celebrations for special occasions.
One community fundraiser that is quite popular is their Pizza Give Back Nights. Local groups can select a Wednesday evening, and Dominic’s will donate 40% of qualifying purchases back to their organization. It’s become a successful way for schools, teams, clubs and local groups to raise money.
Bachman described owning and running two businesses as “Busy, but incredibly rewarding!”
“Owning two small businesses keeps us on our toes, but there’s something special about being part of a small town like Johnstown,” Bachman said. “We get to know our customers by name, watch families grow, celebrate milestones, support local causes and truly feel connected to the people we serve. Our boys are 9 and 13, so they’re growing up seeing firsthand what hard work, community and running small businesses look like.”
For more info, visit: www.blacksheepjohnstown.com and www.dominicsdelivery.com
