Hard work, timing and patience describe the attributes of an entrepreneur. They also outline the qualities of four-time NFL Super Bowl champion and pro-bowler James Thomas Jr., known to most Pittsburghers as J.T. Thomas.
Since retiring from football in 1983, he has been making plays in the food and restaurant industry within the region. He once owned a Chinese restaurant inside PPG Place, and operated a Burger King. With his former teammate Larry Brown, they owned 14 Applebee’s restaurants and later, a Red Hot and Blue restaurant. He is also involved in a marketing, sales and distribution company called The Black-N-Gold Cheesecake Company with another former teammate, Robin Cole.
“I’ve been in the restaurant business all my life,” Thomas said. “It provides joy and enlightenment to people through their mouths via food. Like football, it entertains people.”
He was approached to develop a Crazy Mocha Coffeehouse in the Hill District, but at the time was not interested. Because communications between Hill House Association officials and the owner Ken Zeff of the Crazy Mocha Coffee Company were not going well, he was approached by both parties to reevaluate his decision. In 2013, negotiations began for him to become a franchise owner. This past April, his latest restaurant venture became a Crazy Mocha, 1836 Centre Avenue in the Hill. Their grand opening occured in May.
Thomas said he changed his mind because he had an interest in becoming a franchise owner, the business was similar to what he knows and he had a relationship with Zeff.
Founded in 2000, Crazy Mocha Coffee Company is a Pittsburgh-based business with 30 locations throughout Greater Pittsburgh, New Jersey and Florida. Thomas said Crazy Mocha is known for its friendly baristas, delicious coffee and desserts. Their menu consists of hot- and iced-brewed coffees, espressos, cappuccinos, lattes, mochas and a variety of teas. Also, blended drinks inclusive of fruit smoothies, teas, Italian Sodas, soda, water, Red Bull and Naked Juice. Desserts and pastries include biscotti, muffins, bagels, blueberry or cinnamon crumb cake, lemon iced pound cake and a variety of protein bars.
“What I like about this franchise is that we have some leeway as to what we can sell and how we label our items,” Thomas said. As a result, his menu includes breakfast sandwiches and at one time, he sold his famous sweet potato cheesecake. He offers unique drinks like the Hill District Mocha and a Sugar Top Latte. “The Hill is changing and the people in the community are being reintroduced to shops such as this so we are providing a menu they can have pride in,” he said, pointing to a phrase on the ceiling bulkhead that reads, “Hill Yes.”
One of the walls in the café is decorated with historical Pittsburgh Jazz musicians, some from the Hill District, and a picture of the late Art Rooney Sr.
“My goal here is to create a need for businesses like this and others. We want to be an asset to the community as well as the whole city,” Thomas said. “Because of the makeup of the city being separated by rivers, something has to be offered to change people’s mindsets to get them to cross those rivers and patronize businesses in the Hill. Also, the community and leaders in the Hill must come together as one, to work as a team, to share resources and leverage what they have to make this a gateway.”
Thomas, a Macon, Georgia native and Florida State graduate, has lived in Pittsburgh since he was drafted at age 22 by the Steelers as a first round pick in 1973. He was a successful defensive back for the team until 1982 when he was traded to the Denver Broncos. He won four Super Bowls with the Steelers.
“I’ve lived in Pittsburgh all my adult life,” said Thomas. “Back then the city was different and the Steelers’ marketing director kept us in the community. We had a good rapport with the people.”
Thomas now has two adult children, and grandchildren. For fun, Thomas plays the piano and the organ at his church.
“Fun for me was making sure my kids and now grandkids were and are happy. Fun is people. Family, fun and food.” Even though he came from a poor environment, and was abused while growing up, Thomas said he does not let that define him and considers himself self-blessed. “As an athlete, I’ve traveled and have done and seen a lot in life.”
Now 66 years old, Thomas does not believe in retirement. “It’s not heathy,” he said.
His goal is to be a catalyst, to show people what he has learned through his mistakes, and to be a positive example and role model. When he’s not at the café, he’s often doing speaking engagements or giving back in some way. One method of giving back, Thomas said, is by mentoring people interested in going into the restaurant business, along with providing jobs. He currently has eight staff members, and throughout his career Thomas said he’s had the opportunity to hire many people and provide a second chance to some.
Thomas’ advice to potential entrepreneurs is to be independent thinkers and to operate on faith, not fear.
(Crazy Mocha in the Hill District is open Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
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