When Tammy Jones of Sandrae Drive and her family moved to the South Hills from Southwest Florida in 2014, they were looking for a community with strong schools and a welcoming environment. They found that in Mt. Lebanon — and eventually, they found a way to become part of the community themselves.

The idea for their business, The Pittsburgh Lighthouse Café, started with Tammy’s background as a personal trainer and professional athlete, along with her passion for healthy eating. She saw an opportunity to bring healthier food choices to places where families naturally gather.

“You never really know where life is going to take you,” Tammy Jones said. “If you had told me years ago that we’d end up running concession stands, I never would have believed it. But it’s been such a rewarding journey because we’ve been able to share healthy food with families while becoming part of the community.”

Tammy said the original vision was to create a space offering healthy options at the Mt. Lebanon Ice Center, but when the concession stand at the Mt. Lebanon Swim Center became available, the idea shifted.

The Pittsburgh Lighthouse Café opened at the Mt. Lebanon Swim Center in 2023, bringing a new approach to traditional concession fare. The menu includes healthier options through a partnership with Pure Greens, offering mostly plant-based organic salads and wraps while still serving familiar pool favorites such as hot dogs, candy and ice cream.

“Our goal has never been to tell people they can’t enjoy a hot dog at the pool,” Tammy said. “We just wanted to make sure people had healthy options, too. It’s not about replacing traditional concession food. It’s about giving people more choices so everyone can find something they’ll enjoy.”

Tim Ishman, assistant director of recreation for the Mt. Lebanon Recreation Department, said the café has been a valuable partner.

“What they offer to our patrons and residents is unique in the fact that it’s not just standard concession food,” Ishman said. “They’ve put a lot of thought into wellness and being healthy with some of the alternatives they offer.”

Ishman said the partnership has been strong because of the café’s reliability, customer service and attention to detail.

“They’re everything you’d want in a third-party vendor,” he said. “We communicate well with one another, they’re responsive, their customer service is incredible and they’re very conscientious about the appearance of the facility, the cleanliness and the quality of the food they put out. It’s a real joy to have the as part of our experience at the pool.”

Today, the mom-and-daughter-owned business has expanded and now operates concessions at other pools throughout the South Hills, including the Scott Township pool and, most recently, the Bower Hill Swim Club.

While both Tammy and her daughter, Allison, of Beverly Road, are involved in the business, Tammy jokes that she is more of a “silent partner.” Allison has embraced the customer-facing side of the business and enjoys the relationships she has built with customers.

“I love getting to know the families who come back throughout the summer,” Allison Jones said. “You really become part of their routine, and those connections are what make this work so meaningful.”

One interaction stands out in particular. Allison recalled a customer who returned from vacation and surprised her with a shell necklace.

“It was such a thoughtful gift,” Allison said. “I told them I’ll wear it all summer. Moments like that remind me that what we’re building is about more than food.”

Beyond the café, Allison leads meditation classes and offers holistic healing practices designed to align the body, mind and energy through her yoga studio, The Pittsburgh Lighthouse, located at 633 Washington Road.

According to Tammy and Allison, the concession locations and studio reflect the same philosophy: creating spaces where people feel welcomed, supported and connected through nourishing food, healthy living and overall well-being.

While the family continues to expand its concession business, Tammy said they hope one day to bring those ideas together under one roof.

“If the right opportunity and the right location come along, we’d love to open a wellness center with a café someday,” Tammy said. “The vision is to create a place that brings together healthy food, yoga, meditation and fitness. We’re not in a rush, but it’s something we’ve talked about and would love to do if everything aligns.”

For more information about the Pittsburgh Lighthouse, or to order food online at any of the three pools, visit pghlighthouse.com. They can also be followed on Instagram.