Whoever said a little competition isn’t healthy hadn’t talked to the guys behind Rival Bros. A few days after the launch of their new coffee truck at Love Park (16th St. and JFK Blvd.), we checked in with Jon and Damien — separately — to find out how mixing business and friendship align in the City of Brotherly Love.
Street: What did you think when you first met? Damien Pileggi: Jon moved away in 5th grade, and I started in 6th grade, so I ended up taking his spot in his group of friends. When he finally moved back for good in 10th grade, he was in an enviable position of being the cool, new kid with an already established fan base. It took some time before we warmed up to each other, but eventually he became one of my closest friends. Jon Adams: Sixth grade. I had moved away and just came back to Philly for a wedding. My first thought was, “Who is this kid that took MY spot?!” Haha. Seriously though…
Street: Who was cooler in high school? DP: Jon. And don’t believe him for a second if he says otherwise. JA: No doubt, I was. Dame was rocking denim dress shirts and Looney Tunes ties.
Street: Did you ever think you’d start a business together? DP: Yes. We have many beer–stained bar napkins with our plans. JA: We drew restaurant renderings on napkins at a bar in our early 20s. We always knew that something was bound to happen.
Street: When did you start drinking coffee? DP: Well, diner coffee 24/7 in the mid '90s may not count, so it would be ‘98–'99, when I started visiting the La Colombe cafe on a daily basis. JA: I’ve been drinking coffee as long as I can remember.
Street: When it comes to beans, who’s the bigger snob? DP: Jon. I joke with him that he’s more into the romance of it all. JA: Damien is. He knows everything.
Street: You’re stuck on an island and you can only bring one thing with you — your Rival Bro or coffee. What do you do? DP: Jon. JA: I would bring Damien because his jokes are always great.
Street: What would your counterpart say? DP: Damien. JA: Damien would bring himself. And Steve Miller Band Greatest Hits.
Street: What’s your coffee order? DP: Double macchiato. JA: Macchiato in the morning if I am at a cafe. Otherwise, Chemex, and I always drink coffee black.
Street: What’s your Rival Bro’s? DP: Espresso short. JA: Dame likes cappuccino.
Street: What’s more important — the rival or the bro? DP: Bro for sure. JA: The bro. Even when we fight, we end up hugging it out.
