This Family-Run Bakery Gives Economy a Boost

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

This is a story about punk rock, pastries, parenthood and a French-Canadian-American dream.

On July 1, Quebec native Elodie Cyr Condosta and her Southern California-born husband A.J. Condosta opened Lavande Whisk Bakery & Coffee Shop in Economy.

The couple met through the music industry — she managed concert tours; he’s a longtime drummer for bands such as Guttermouth and Hit the Switch. In 2022, they left the West Coast to find a new rhythm in Pittsburgh with their 5-year-old daughter Abigaëlle.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The space in Beaver County is small, but the flavors are big.

The menu changes with the seasons, the availability of fresh, organic ingredients and Elodie’s whisking whims, but there are some mainstay desserts that you must try. Abigaëlle will happily tell you all about them, complete with a song-and-dance routine.

Elodie’s carrot cakes and muffins with cream cheese icing and filling could outdo the Easter Bunny’s. I’m dubbing them “karat cakes” because they’re worth their weight in gold. Customers will also find blueberry muffins and ooey-gooey chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with sea salt. Don’t you dare leave Lavande Whisk without a Canadian date square; Elodie grew up making them with her grandmother in Ferme-Neuve, a tiny town about two hours north of Montreal.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

Follow the business on social media to see what’s baking each day. Recent offerings include gluten-free s’mores cupcakes and slices of lemon lavender cake. Schedule a consultation with Elodie for custom sweet treats and sourdough and savory breads.

Even though it was 85 degrees and sunny during my mid-August visit, I felt the time was right for a pumpkin latte. Talking with a kindergartener about movie monsters enhanced my spooky mood (Abigaëlle is not a fan of Chucky, but Jason is OK).

I followed my autumnal beverage with a Thunderbolt, homemade lemonade topped with a shot of espresso. I needed the extra caffeine to keep up with Abigaëlle, who I later saw leading a group of patrons in a spirited rendition of The Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.”

She gets that musicality and love of Pittsburgh from her dad.

A.J. performed at The Smiling Moose on the South Side so many times, he got the logo tattooed on his leg. A certified cicerone, he now tends bar at the beer-brewing company’s Cranberry location, where Elodie tested a number of her cake recipes. The Moose’s East Carson Street site closed in 2025 after more than two decades.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

In addition to being a suds aficionado, A.J. knows a thing or two about breakfast burritos; he regularly whips up batches based on a recipe he learned from his childhood bestie’s abuelita. In the mood for more savory eats? The bakery shares a wall with Casa De Comida, a bistro that’s open for lunch and dinner.

I plan to try one (or all) of Chef Edward S. Colón’s signature dishes, such as the Deconstructed Pierogi (garlic butter, mashed potatoes, pasta and caramelized onions with house-blended cheese) on my next foodie road trip through Beaver County.

The semi-rural suburb is located about 23 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. As a city-dweller, I don’t say this often, but I really enjoyed the drive.

PHOTO BY KRISTY GRAVER

The Condostas reside in Penn Hills, but they’ve already been embraced by their business community. The spot was previously a coffee shop called Brewed Awakening; many regulars continue to support the new owners by making it part of their daily ritual.

The family is slowly transforming the space, adding touches that celebrate their Canadian and punk rock heritage. Abigaëlle is quite proud of the small sitting room, which has a floor lined with pennies. (If you’re into old coins, visit the World’s Fair of Money, which runs through Aug. 29 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.)

Life is all about change.

Elodie, whose father died unexpectedly last year at age 56, says she didn’t want to put her dream of owning a bakery on hold any longer.

Following her heart is already paying off in Economy.