Lit Coffee Roastery and Bakeshop, 26 E. Third St., Bethlehem, had to take a, you might say, coffee break temporarily from providing gourmet coffee, baked goods and Wi-Fi to an expanding clientele when all “non-essential” businesses were closed March 19 by Gov. Tom Wolf in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Lit, which opened in 2017, is a collaboration between Bethlehem’s Monocacy Coffee Co., co-owned by roasters Matthew Hengeveld and Dan Taylor, and Melanie Lino’s Made By Lino bakery.

Although the lounge and tables have been closed to the public since late March, curbside service began during Pennsylvania’s Yellow Phase and has continued through the Green Phase.

“We’ll be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays,” says Hengeveld.

“Customers can order takeout by entering through the front door and following guidelines [wear a face mask, creditcard sales only, maintain safe distance and floor markings],” Hengeveld says.

Curbside service can be ordered on the coffeehouse’s website and picked up at Lit’s back door, which is along Mechanic Street.

With no outdoor seating at the time of the deadline for this article, the partners recommend bringing a blanket to the Greenway public space behind the shop.

“While we were closed, we still fulfilled online coffee and baked good sales through our respective websites,” says Hengeveld.

“At times, our sales saw quite a boost, because many people were afraid to go to grocery stores. Now, with more stores reopened, Lit has experienced “a leveling-out of sales.’

“With closures at Lit, as well as our sister shop Cosmic Cup in College Hill, [Easton], we’ve seen a steep decline in gross revenue,” says Hengeveld.

Lit obtained a small loan through the state to help handle the pandemic economic impact.

“It’s enough to get us by in the short term, but we’re still left unsure about our long term prospects,” Hengeveld says.

“Without adequate funding, our area’s small businesses will be irreversibly damaged, and we can lose many of the people and places that makes our area special.”

Limited dine-in service is allowed in the Green Phase, but Lit isn’t ready to offer it yet.

“The customer experience at coffee shops isn’t as linear than the ‘sit down, eat, leave’ experience you see at a normal restaurant,” says Hengeveld.

“Our customers like being able to sit down and hang out for a while, and this poses a challenge.”

He’s looking for a way to offer the full coffee shop experience safely, before going that next step.

How the colleges in Bethlehem and Easton reopen in the fall, whether through online, in-person or a hybrid of classes, is expected to greatly impact both coffeehouses.

Information: www.lit610.com; 484-626-0945