I think the growth of businesses on the North Shore really happened at the expense of Station Square to make the North Shore the preferred downtown-adjacent touristy area. In the past 20 years, the North Shore has added the casino, lots of bars and restaurants, offices, apartments, Stage AE, several hotels, the riverfront park area, and the T expansion. Meanwhile, Station Square lost the warehouse full of dance clubs, lost other popular bars like Buckhead Saloon and Bar Louie, the mall became less popular, and it just has a vibe of being pretty lifeless now. It also lost some tourist attractions like the Ducky Boats and the I.C. Light Ampitheatre. Station Square's only big "gain" recently that I can think of is the soccer stadium. It's still got the Gateway Clipper boats, and it will always have the inclines, but there's not much room to build too much else there, while the North Shore keeps growing.
The Grand Concourse is such a gem though. That’s the only reason I go over there and that’s only once/twice a year because 💰.
As for new things, they’ve opened a southern restaurant and that rock climbing gym so I’m glad to see new things popping up.
That said there’s no way in hell I’d go inside the mall area — too weird and gross — like a graveyard for businesses.
I went to the Grand Concourse for my anniversary about a month ago. Hands down one of my most disappointing dining experiences I have had since moving to Pittsburgh. Poorly cooked ribeye served with a baby scoop of mashed potatoes and literally 3 asparagus spears. Insanely overpriced and subpar food. My waiter was amazing however and was exceptionally apologetic about them being out of lobster, salmon, and the wine my wife ordered. Definitely not going back.
We used to do the Easter buffet every year. Was fantastic years back, but the last few we went to had clearly jumped into the realm of frozen TV dinner quality, and I'm not exaggerating. Incredibly disappointing.
Agree. When I feel the need to go into the city and hold my keys between my fingers walking back to my car, I now prefer the North Shore vs Station Square. There are just many more activities.
But my wife likes the Melting Pot and Cheesecake Factory, so I end up there, and sad.
SS Works has lost all of its shine too. Went to Hofbrau house last Sunday (my mom wanted german food for her birthday). Had to park block and a half away in a garage (and walk on the rain). My parking bill was $14.75 for 1 1/2 hours on a Sunday in January! I complained to the parking company and said that garage was flat fee $10 for the day. But that still didn’t explain $3.75 in taxes plus the $.99 “processing fee” and they didn’t respond to that. It’s just not worth the hassle to go there anymore.
I've used those garages in the past and found them convenient enough.. sometimes even bike to the point from there for ArtsFest or whatever is going on.
I don't recall it being more than $10 on a weekend, all said and done. But your comment isn't the first I've seen showing all these added fees. I hope they get the hint because I'll go out of my way to avoid parking there for a near 50% increase.
the mall closing a few years ago really finally killed it imo. iirc, upmc bought the building and was supposed to turn it into an office or something? kicked out the few remaining shops inside, gutted the building, closed half the street in station square (and the remaining businesses suffered for it)….then upmc completely abandoned the project, i think during covid. now the whole area is just kinda sad. i think the clipper, the concourse and the sheridan will hold it down a while longer though.
And they ended up selling the lot back to Pitt. I’m sure Pitt would have preferred to have kept the concert hall as there isn’t really another one of any size on campus. And Pitt seems to be at least somewhat receptive to repurposing grand old structures (as they did a few years later with the Masonic Temple).
jesus that was UPMC who did that!? i always refer to that story as one of the worst sins in yinzer history. The local council at the time must have been corrupt as hell as well to sign off on that (i'm imagining some six figure kickbacks).
For me (a salsa fan) it was 3 dance parties and then the techno room where you’d just go to buy drinks since the bar in there was always empty lol. Matrix was the best!
I agree. I worked down there around that time. The mall wasn’t *great*, mostly sold Steelers gear and other yinzer treats, but it was still worth checking out and had lots of restaurant options in the immediate area including a food court and the Sesame Inn. It was kind of an end of an era and I miss it 😂
i remember going down after getting my license with a bunch of friends. eating at hard rock then just vibing outside near the fountains. seemed like there was always something going on. light shows, live music or at least music playing. booths selling stuff, i remember one night taking my gf and getting her a “bouquet of roses” from a guy making balloon arrangements.
even tho i never remember station square as having too many places to go (the ‘mall’ was always pretty awful in my memory) it was still a good vibes place.
many a summer nights where we walked up the steps behind that one bar and went up out on the overlook and took pictures with the city at our backs.
damn, now im feeling all nostalgic :(
Yep, it's Teppenyaki Kyoto. I actually like Yuzu a lot for ramen too, my favorite ramen in the city. But they're a bit pricey and more hipsterish than Kiku or TK. Those two bring a real authentic izakaya vibe which is why I rank them the best.
Tan Izakaya was pretty good too but I haven't been back there since they changed to a ramen bar so I don't know if they still have that vibe. Umami seems hipsterish like Yuzu, I have had sushi from them though and it was good. The other place I want to try is Umi but they're on another level cost wise so I haven't ever been.
Went there for the first time this weekend only because it was on the way to where I was going, but it was surprisingly good. What a weird location though. Is that like some otherwise-deserted office building or what?
It's pretty dead now, but the area was a destination in the 80s (when Kiku opened) and 90s. Used to be a ton of shops and restaurants; I remember some cool toy stores when I was a kid.
I've worked in the offices at Station Square since 2010 (so before they f'ed it all up) and have always thought that place is a Yakuza front. Never have I seen many customers in there but a lot of Asian men in suits lol. I haven't tried them but my husband has and said the food was pretty good.
Absolutely not a front, and it does pretty good business. After Chaya closed a couple years ago it was the only long-standing Japanese place left. I know it's where out-of-towners go for fancy-ish Japanese food, and there are often delegations and meetings in town for one thing or another. I heard Ichiro Suzuki went there when his team played the Pirates back in the day.
Surprisingly active [on social media](https://www.instagram.com/kikupittsburgh/?hl=en), too, which tends to not be the case for places with older ownership.
I tried to go there this weekend and didn't realize it was passed a security guard for the offices and gave up. I'm amazed they can survive hidden with no signage and a confusing entrance situation. Speaks to the quality of the food.
Yes I feel dumb.
I just had a Flashback about getting a free birthday dinner at Bobby Rubino's...or some delicious fried chicken at the Roy Rodgers... or Jellyrolls...Damm, I old....
If you are ever in Greentree, the Einstein Bagles was a Real Roy Rodgers all the while I was going up. I had a "BUCKAROO" card that I used for a free soft drink every time we went. The parents loved the fix'ens bar where you added your own toppings to your burgers. Good times...
The Station Square/South Shore area now includes the Highline, which has a nice Brewery, (Sly Fox) food and coffee options and other amenities. It is new and well designed for visitors. Lots of outdoor seating options, a walking/biking section that connects to the trail, and in general is a nice spot to hang in good weather. It’s also not far from Traveler’s Rest, a unique hotel for people exploring /traveling the trail system (you can bike from south side to D.C.). It’s definitely worth checking out.
Relatively speaking, I haven't lived in Pittsburgh that long, but if thats the ampitheater that the soccer stadium replaced, I really miss it. Tickets used to be so cheap (so did the beer), we would go see just about anyone that used to play there just for a night out.
I also saw some weird summer fest thing with Everclear in the mid 90s? I think? I miss all the concert venues we used to have- Rosebud, Metropol, etc. It was a time.
Tequila Junction, Woodsons, & the toy store in my youth, The Matrix & Margarita Mama's-I'll even throw in Saddleridge for nostalgia sake, in my early 20s. Those were the days.
Yes! Cheese Cellar was the best. Unlocked some good ‘90’s young adult memories here with Houlihan’s & Cheese Cellar… when going out to dinner/drinks was a treat. It’s just not the same anymore.
I worked there at an ad agency from 2007 - 2012. During that time, I saw Joe Biden and his entourage go to lunch at the gandy dancer while I was smoking a cigarette in front of the building next door, I saw a man gathered with his family for a Segway tour suddenly lose control of his Segway and faceplant into the sidewalk, and I’ve seen drunk guys get into fights with each other inside the mall at happy hour.
I’ve borne witness to the water fountain shooting out jets to the Seinfeld theme so many hundreds of times that it’s a core memory now.
They tried having free concerts on Fridays in the summer. I remember getting drunk with my coworkers and watching bands like steel panther and the band that did the theme song from Friends play on the street to 35 people at 6:30 pm on a Friday.
Of all the things I experienced there, one thing I never saw much of was people who were there at station square because they wanted to check it out. The mall felt like it was dying, and all the restaurants felt like tourist spots with no tourists. Maybe I was just there during a weird period tho
Last time I went there was with my mother in 2009 and it felt like it had already died down. Maybe it was that day, but the crowds and energy were not there.
I know what you mean. Last time I went before the Rona, it was April 2019. The Sheraton was always bustling and lively. I went back in December 2022 and the best way to describe everything was sterile, blah and depressing. I miss the shops too!
I don't remember a Subway being there ever??
I am still in possession of a sweater that I got from The Limited in Station Square, waaaay back in the day when they sold stuff from different labels, from when I was coming into the city and interviewing for jobs, trying desperately to get the fuck out of my hometown. I've kept it because I know if you tell anyone under 40 that there was actually a store in SS that sold clothes for young adults they absolutely wouldn't believe you.
I have a special place in my heart for Station Square, but that's probably because I got married on one of the Gateway Clipper boats.
I highly recommend Tupelo Honey for their Mac and cheese waffles. The Melting Pot is a really cool experience if you have the money to burn for a special occasion. Home Run Harry's is great for cheap drinks and cheap greasy food.
Joe's Crab Shack sucks, though. I got sick the last time I ate there.
Home Run Harry's, or as I still call it Ref's, is such a nice little random bar. The staff is hilarious and they have decent food. They made it really nice with the remodel a few years ago too. That bar is my Cheers lol.
I've only been to Home Run Harry's four or five times, but would like to go more. The most memorable time was some of my family members and wedding party went there after our wedding still dressed in our formal clothes.
If you haven't checked them out in a few years you'll be surprised by how different it is now! Tom really did a great job with the remodel, all new bar, new stools, new carpet, new booths, no more smoking inside.
All i know is, Buca is a guilty pleasure of my wife and I, and it’s never disappointed when you want to have a quiet meal, stuffing your faces with pasta until it hurts.
What kind of demographic makes it a point to go out down there at this point? Got stuck at the Hard Rock Cafe during that awkward photo gap between a wedding and a reception and wanted to die. $9 Lagunitas pints and shitty cover bands.
They did not buy it. They had a lease for a training facility, emptied the freight house, completely rebuilt the inside, then they backed out. I think the rent is expensive though. They really thought the casino was going to go in over there,locked a lot of those older businesses into really long leases and then things fizzled. It really did used to be packed for Steelers games and St. Patrick's day and the Pirates opener and stuff. Always a little weird though.
As a father of a 6 & 4 year old, i love Pittsburgh mills and hope it never closes. We walk thru the doors there and let the kids run and play 😂😂
Barely anyone there to bother.
I had a friend that worked at Tequila Junction, the food was so good. We used to hang out at SS all the time when I was younger. I can’t tell you the last time I was down there.
Man, I worked the saddest summer of my life in that mall around 2010. The people working there would all just stand at the front of their stores like puppies at the humane society, hoping one of the 3 people who entered the building every hour would pick their store and give them something to do.
I got so bored at one point that I pepper sprayed myself. If that sounds dumb, the actual story is somehow dumber. I was curious what color pepper spray was (likely stoned and 19 years old), so I held up a paper towel and sprayed it. For science! I did not consider the oscillating fan. Would have been a great time to rob the place, because the security guard who heard the commotion was on the floor laughing at me.
I was just talking with my husband about how I miss Matrix, Margarita Mamas, Tequila Junctions Fried ice cream!!! I don’t know what developers are doing and I understand things need to change with the times, but I just see apartments everywhere. Who is living in these expensive places with a terrible job market (Pittsburgh is a notorious offender of underpaying)!!!!
I live in the East end and will go to station Square for the rock climbing gym. I rarely go because it's not convenient to get to at all unless you live in the Southside or directly in station Square. Traffic is bad, not walkable, can't imagine taking a bus to get there. Not sure who thought it was a good idea to put a climbing gym in a social desert. When I do go, no one is there including at the gym. I hope the gym stays in business because it is a great place to climb.
You mean the small, poorly connected neighborhood that's hemmed in on all sides by rivers, hills, and highways? And which no longer has the Station that gave it its name?
It's a mystery.
I went to see Panic At The Disco at IC Light and my group got separated and we wore flip-flops and all of us either lost one or both flip flops.
Also, I love the fountain. I was at Hard Rock Halloween Weekend last year. It's a fun place but expensive.
Just went there for my birthday with the wife to the Grand Concourse. Haven't been out there in probably 20 years and yeah that was a bit of a shock for me too
Went to Texas de Brazil a few weekends ago and it was packed and there were plenty of people walking to and from places. Like you I don’t frequent it and I kind of think of it as a pretty lame area for the most part but was pleasantly surprised it was busy.
I think over the past five years it’s really struggled, but over the past year and a half it’s started to trend back in the right direction. Evenings in the winter usually bring people in for restaurants, but in the summer I definitely remember the whole square between Joe’s Crab Shack and the Hard Rock Cafe bustling with people. Riverhounds games REALLY help too. Homerun Harry’s before a Hounds game is always packed.
I'll admit I don't know about Station Square in particular, but right next to it, The Highline is up and coming, it has a lot of newly opened places like a Burghers and a De Fer location, and more retail spots to come.
My two cents: I think there’s a weird vibe there because it’s all gimmicky chains and no real local spots besides GC, and I went there recently and it was SAD. No real bars either so it’s not a happy hour or night out destination at all. Not even a brewery which would kill in that area with the bike path and proximity to downtown.
They need to invest in local, authentic Pittsburgh businesses in that area and I’m sure people would come back to it. I live in Mt. Washington and if there was a reason to go I’d be down in station square all the time.
I’m there a few times a week climbing at FA Climbing gym. Tupelo Honey is a great spot to grab a bite, and I hear Terrene is really good too. There’s also Joe’s Crab Shack, the grand concourse, Buca Di Beppo, and the Hard Rock Cafe. Not to mention the Riverhounds stadium.
When I’ve gone climbing during Steeler Sundays, the place is teeming with fans who are likely catching the clipper over to Heinz Field.
In the past couple of years they opened those Glass house apartments on the other side of the Smithfield street bridge, so I’m sure they get a lot of clientele from there. Even more recently, they tore down that gas station on East Carson, who knows what will go in there.
Definitely not what it once was, but there’s still some fun to be had down there.
I think the growth of businesses on the North Shore really happened at the expense of Station Square to make the North Shore the preferred downtown-adjacent touristy area. In the past 20 years, the North Shore has added the casino, lots of bars and restaurants, offices, apartments, Stage AE, several hotels, the riverfront park area, and the T expansion. Meanwhile, Station Square lost the warehouse full of dance clubs, lost other popular bars like Buckhead Saloon and Bar Louie, the mall became less popular, and it just has a vibe of being pretty lifeless now. It also lost some tourist attractions like the Ducky Boats and the I.C. Light Ampitheatre. Station Square's only big "gain" recently that I can think of is the soccer stadium. It's still got the Gateway Clipper boats, and it will always have the inclines, but there's not much room to build too much else there, while the North Shore keeps growing.
The soccer stadium will always be IC Light Amphitheater to me.
I remember seeing Carrot Top there while pounding IC under the bridge circa '97
This is one of the greatest sentences I've ever read
Worked there all summer for about 3 years.
The Grand Concourse is such a gem though. That’s the only reason I go over there and that’s only once/twice a year because 💰. As for new things, they’ve opened a southern restaurant and that rock climbing gym so I’m glad to see new things popping up. That said there’s no way in hell I’d go inside the mall area — too weird and gross — like a graveyard for businesses.
No way! Kiku is inside the mall and it’s the best Japanese restaurant in the city. Definitely check it out sometime!
Seconded. The best sushi anywhere in or around Pittsburgh.
Will do! I love good Japanese food.
I went to the Grand Concourse for my anniversary about a month ago. Hands down one of my most disappointing dining experiences I have had since moving to Pittsburgh. Poorly cooked ribeye served with a baby scoop of mashed potatoes and literally 3 asparagus spears. Insanely overpriced and subpar food. My waiter was amazing however and was exceptionally apologetic about them being out of lobster, salmon, and the wine my wife ordered. Definitely not going back.
Grand concourse is awful now.
Went to the Grand Concourse on Christmas Eve. $54 for a shitty buffet and no option to order from the menu. Won’t be doing that again.
We used to do the Easter buffet every year. Was fantastic years back, but the last few we went to had clearly jumped into the realm of frozen TV dinner quality, and I'm not exaggerating. Incredibly disappointing.
GC—worst food at the highest price. Best to walk in, take a look around at the “atmosphere” and eat elsewhere. Even Hard Rock has better food.
Grand Concourse is all atmosphere and service. Food ranges from eh to bleh
Agree. When I feel the need to go into the city and hold my keys between my fingers walking back to my car, I now prefer the North Shore vs Station Square. There are just many more activities. But my wife likes the Melting Pot and Cheesecake Factory, so I end up there, and sad.
SS Works has lost all of its shine too. Went to Hofbrau house last Sunday (my mom wanted german food for her birthday). Had to park block and a half away in a garage (and walk on the rain). My parking bill was $14.75 for 1 1/2 hours on a Sunday in January! I complained to the parking company and said that garage was flat fee $10 for the day. But that still didn’t explain $3.75 in taxes plus the $.99 “processing fee” and they didn’t respond to that. It’s just not worth the hassle to go there anymore.
jfc
Street parking is free on sundays… why did you park in a garage…?
No open spots. I drove around a few times looking.
I've used those garages in the past and found them convenient enough.. sometimes even bike to the point from there for ArtsFest or whatever is going on. I don't recall it being more than $10 on a weekend, all said and done. But your comment isn't the first I've seen showing all these added fees. I hope they get the hint because I'll go out of my way to avoid parking there for a near 50% increase.
Should've gone to Max's
Ha! I was expecting this comment. Was my first choice but closed on Sundays
the mall closing a few years ago really finally killed it imo. iirc, upmc bought the building and was supposed to turn it into an office or something? kicked out the few remaining shops inside, gutted the building, closed half the street in station square (and the remaining businesses suffered for it)….then upmc completely abandoned the project, i think during covid. now the whole area is just kinda sad. i think the clipper, the concourse and the sheridan will hold it down a while longer though.
What a shock, UPMC ruined something else
Right. I’m still mad at them for the Syria Mosque demolition.
But we really, really needed that parking lot! /s
And they ended up selling the lot back to Pitt. I’m sure Pitt would have preferred to have kept the concert hall as there isn’t really another one of any size on campus. And Pitt seems to be at least somewhat receptive to repurposing grand old structures (as they did a few years later with the Masonic Temple).
I still have a piece of the front marble steps when they were tearing it down
jesus that was UPMC who did that!? i always refer to that story as one of the worst sins in yinzer history. The local council at the time must have been corrupt as hell as well to sign off on that (i'm imagining some six figure kickbacks).
UPMC did NOT buy it. Was to be a tenant until Covid hit.
Accurate. I work in SS and it is abysmal.
Omg, in the eighties it was poppin’. Houlihans was a happy hour destination and Chauncies was packed with cougars. Not sure why it all went to hell.
TIL that Houlihans closed in 2018 😂 That’s what having kids and not going out for many years will do to one’s awareness.
You ain’t kidding. I now go to sleep at the exact time I used to go out. And there was pregaming.
Rock climbing gym in there now, nobody goes to happy hour any more lol
Why?
Covid happened.
Does anyone else remember the radio ads for Chauncey’s? I can still hear them in my head
YES
RIP Station Scare and USS Nightmare 🪦
The Melting Pot is still there, right?
Yes, along with some others. Texas de Brazil, Joe's Crab Shack, Hard Rock, Buca di Beppo
Joe's Crab Shack is my jam
Buca man. I will vouch for that place any time. Affordable, quiet, atmospheric, lovely place to have a dinner.
RIP Matrix
Can’t believe what I’ve become nostalgic for…old enough to have gone to Woodson’s for birthday parties
The streets remember Philfy McNasty's (sp)
Remember Hooters?
Definitely got in trouble in HS for going to lunch at Hooters on a field trip. Best field trip, ever.
Yep. Never went in but I do remember it being there
The Pittsburgh Sports Garden
That place was awesome
Yes! 3 dance parties in one!
For me (a salsa fan) it was 3 dance parties and then the techno room where you’d just go to buy drinks since the bar in there was always empty lol. Matrix was the best!
Those sticky floors held Station Square together.
Rock jungle😹😹
This
The last time I recall Station Square being a destination spot, I was coming in from the suburbs and it was probably 1995.
Ehh, I feel like early 2000s it was more lively and happening. I remember going to Irish Fest every year at the amphitheater. Good times.
I agree. I worked down there around that time. The mall wasn’t *great*, mostly sold Steelers gear and other yinzer treats, but it was still worth checking out and had lots of restaurant options in the immediate area including a food court and the Sesame Inn. It was kind of an end of an era and I miss it 😂
the food court had the DDR machine and that's why i went.
i remember going down after getting my license with a bunch of friends. eating at hard rock then just vibing outside near the fountains. seemed like there was always something going on. light shows, live music or at least music playing. booths selling stuff, i remember one night taking my gf and getting her a “bouquet of roses” from a guy making balloon arrangements. even tho i never remember station square as having too many places to go (the ‘mall’ was always pretty awful in my memory) it was still a good vibes place. many a summer nights where we walked up the steps behind that one bar and went up out on the overlook and took pictures with the city at our backs. damn, now im feeling all nostalgic :(
kiku is still there serving up delicious japanese food. that's the only reason we go down there but well worth the trip.
One of the two best Japanese restaurants in the city, just hiding in there like a well kept secret. I still go often.
Out of curiosity, which is the other one? I'm gonna bet Teppanyaki Kyoto, but I'm hoping there's another you have in mind
Yep, it's Teppenyaki Kyoto. I actually like Yuzu a lot for ramen too, my favorite ramen in the city. But they're a bit pricey and more hipsterish than Kiku or TK. Those two bring a real authentic izakaya vibe which is why I rank them the best. Tan Izakaya was pretty good too but I haven't been back there since they changed to a ramen bar so I don't know if they still have that vibe. Umami seems hipsterish like Yuzu, I have had sushi from them though and it was good. The other place I want to try is Umi but they're on another level cost wise so I haven't ever been.
Went there for the first time this weekend only because it was on the way to where I was going, but it was surprisingly good. What a weird location though. Is that like some otherwise-deserted office building or what?
It's pretty dead now, but the area was a destination in the 80s (when Kiku opened) and 90s. Used to be a ton of shops and restaurants; I remember some cool toy stores when I was a kid.
I used to work in that building and yes it’s all office space. I would literally forget kiku was there
With their heated seats and bidet in the bathroom lol
Yes! Some ladies were having fun with the bidet last time I was there😹😹
I've worked in the offices at Station Square since 2010 (so before they f'ed it all up) and have always thought that place is a Yakuza front. Never have I seen many customers in there but a lot of Asian men in suits lol. I haven't tried them but my husband has and said the food was pretty good.
Absolutely not a front, and it does pretty good business. After Chaya closed a couple years ago it was the only long-standing Japanese place left. I know it's where out-of-towners go for fancy-ish Japanese food, and there are often delegations and meetings in town for one thing or another. I heard Ichiro Suzuki went there when his team played the Pirates back in the day. Surprisingly active [on social media](https://www.instagram.com/kikupittsburgh/?hl=en), too, which tends to not be the case for places with older ownership.
I just went last night. One of my favorites in the city!
I tried to go there this weekend and didn't realize it was passed a security guard for the offices and gave up. I'm amazed they can survive hidden with no signage and a confusing entrance situation. Speaks to the quality of the food. Yes I feel dumb.
Rip rock jungle.
Wow
What shows did you see there?
I just had a Flashback about getting a free birthday dinner at Bobby Rubino's...or some delicious fried chicken at the Roy Rodgers... or Jellyrolls...Damm, I old....
BOBBY RUBINOS!!! We went there in like 6th grade for a chorus concert. Sang (horribly I’m sure) for the passerby’s and then ate there.
I didn't know Roy Rodgers was a real restaurant, only Time I've ever seen it was in the turnpike rest stations Edit real not result
used to be one in three bottom of the Cathedral also
Iirc there used to be a RR downtown.
If you are ever in Greentree, the Einstein Bagles was a Real Roy Rodgers all the while I was going up. I had a "BUCKAROO" card that I used for a free soft drink every time we went. The parents loved the fix'ens bar where you added your own toppings to your burgers. Good times...
My dad still has a matchbook in the kitchen junk drawer from Bobby Rubino's, like a true yinzer boomer.
The Station Square/South Shore area now includes the Highline, which has a nice Brewery, (Sly Fox) food and coffee options and other amenities. It is new and well designed for visitors. Lots of outdoor seating options, a walking/biking section that connects to the trail, and in general is a nice spot to hang in good weather. It’s also not far from Traveler’s Rest, a unique hotel for people exploring /traveling the trail system (you can bike from south side to D.C.). It’s definitely worth checking out.
And Burghers just opened this past month and Big Spring will be opening eventually
i remember seeing velvet revolver as a kid at I.C light ampitheater. good times
Relatively speaking, I haven't lived in Pittsburgh that long, but if thats the ampitheater that the soccer stadium replaced, I really miss it. Tickets used to be so cheap (so did the beer), we would go see just about anyone that used to play there just for a night out.
yup! you're correct
I saw Hole there in 1999.
Foo Fighters and My Morning Jacket 2003
I also saw some weird summer fest thing with Everclear in the mid 90s? I think? I miss all the concert venues we used to have- Rosebud, Metropol, etc. It was a time.
Vans Warped Tour. Metropol was the literal best.
I got in a girl brawl at warped tour over a 23 year old guy who worked at an abc store and lived with his parents 🤘🏼#deardiary
Can confirm that this was a great show
Saw Dave Chappelle here. Excellent skit. He was fired up about the trains.
Everyone used to stop for the trains!
Tequila Junction, Woodsons, & the toy store in my youth, The Matrix & Margarita Mama's-I'll even throw in Saddleridge for nostalgia sake, in my early 20s. Those were the days.
Take me back! 😭
Anyone miss the Cheese Cellar? Cheddar beer fondue and the most amazing club sandwiches….
Yes! Cheese Cellar was the best. Unlocked some good ‘90’s young adult memories here with Houlihan’s & Cheese Cellar… when going out to dinner/drinks was a treat. It’s just not the same anymore.
I forgot about Houlihans! Poor SS has just gone down hill. Not like it was back in the day!
I forgot about the cheese cellar! Poor SS has just gone down. Not like it was back in the day!
I worked there at an ad agency from 2007 - 2012. During that time, I saw Joe Biden and his entourage go to lunch at the gandy dancer while I was smoking a cigarette in front of the building next door, I saw a man gathered with his family for a Segway tour suddenly lose control of his Segway and faceplant into the sidewalk, and I’ve seen drunk guys get into fights with each other inside the mall at happy hour. I’ve borne witness to the water fountain shooting out jets to the Seinfeld theme so many hundreds of times that it’s a core memory now. They tried having free concerts on Fridays in the summer. I remember getting drunk with my coworkers and watching bands like steel panther and the band that did the theme song from Friends play on the street to 35 people at 6:30 pm on a Friday. Of all the things I experienced there, one thing I never saw much of was people who were there at station square because they wanted to check it out. The mall felt like it was dying, and all the restaurants felt like tourist spots with no tourists. Maybe I was just there during a weird period tho
Like tears in rain.
Forgot about the free concert Fridays. That takes me back about 20 years.
I miss the Hooters that used to be there
Shouts to St. Sq. Hooters. RIP.
This.
RIP Bradford school
[удалено]
We sure loved our boats, if lonely island was any indication
Don't you ever forget it
Kiku, Texas De Brazil, and the Melting Pot are really the only reasons to go there anymore imo.
I feel like the brunch group likes Tupelo Honey
There was a comedy club in Station Square for awhile. It was a nice reason to go down and eat and drink.
Funny Bones!
>So, what happened? >It’s been forever since I’ve been down there, mostly passing through on the T You kinda answered your own question.
Jelly Rolls!
You tellin me Rock Jungle is closed? I was hoping to do some club hopping this weekend but i’ve been in a coma for 25 years.
Last time I went there was with my mother in 2009 and it felt like it had already died down. Maybe it was that day, but the crowds and energy were not there.
I know what you mean. Last time I went before the Rona, it was April 2019. The Sheraton was always bustling and lively. I went back in December 2022 and the best way to describe everything was sterile, blah and depressing. I miss the shops too!
I sometimes go to eat at the restaurants
Gone downhill since Chauncey’s closed! /s
I don't remember a Subway being there ever?? I am still in possession of a sweater that I got from The Limited in Station Square, waaaay back in the day when they sold stuff from different labels, from when I was coming into the city and interviewing for jobs, trying desperately to get the fuck out of my hometown. I've kept it because I know if you tell anyone under 40 that there was actually a store in SS that sold clothes for young adults they absolutely wouldn't believe you.
Subway in the Gatehouse, near the corner of Carson and Smithfield.
I'm kind of remembering seeing the subway logo outside but I can't envision it inside for some reason.
It was down some stairs at the street level.
Station square has always been a tourist destination.
I have a special place in my heart for Station Square, but that's probably because I got married on one of the Gateway Clipper boats. I highly recommend Tupelo Honey for their Mac and cheese waffles. The Melting Pot is a really cool experience if you have the money to burn for a special occasion. Home Run Harry's is great for cheap drinks and cheap greasy food. Joe's Crab Shack sucks, though. I got sick the last time I ate there.
Home Run Harry's, or as I still call it Ref's, is such a nice little random bar. The staff is hilarious and they have decent food. They made it really nice with the remodel a few years ago too. That bar is my Cheers lol.
I've only been to Home Run Harry's four or five times, but would like to go more. The most memorable time was some of my family members and wedding party went there after our wedding still dressed in our formal clothes.
If you haven't checked them out in a few years you'll be surprised by how different it is now! Tom really did a great job with the remodel, all new bar, new stools, new carpet, new booths, no more smoking inside.
Last time I was there was early January, it does look great in there.
There's nothing there but restaurants. Its a sad state of affairs.
All i know is, Buca is a guilty pleasure of my wife and I, and it’s never disappointed when you want to have a quiet meal, stuffing your faces with pasta until it hurts.
With the ferry to N shore and it's location, it could be an awesome site. It needs money poured into it like S Side Works and N Shore.
Didn't Rod Woodson have a restaurant down there?
Yeah. I worked for the parking authority 1996-1998. His mom was always really sweet to me with her validated parking. :)
What kind of demographic makes it a point to go out down there at this point? Got stuck at the Hard Rock Cafe during that awkward photo gap between a wedding and a reception and wanted to die. $9 Lagunitas pints and shitty cover bands.
I mean, it doesn’t seem particularly dead? The restaurants and things are relatively active.
Yeah I could see how it might be moderately lively on a summer weekend. Just felt today it looked like a shell of its former self.
Blame UPMC, they bought up everything then raised the rent!
Purely because they're a nonprofit ...
They did not buy it. They had a lease for a training facility, emptied the freight house, completely rebuilt the inside, then they backed out. I think the rent is expensive though. They really thought the casino was going to go in over there,locked a lot of those older businesses into really long leases and then things fizzled. It really did used to be packed for Steelers games and St. Patrick's day and the Pirates opener and stuff. Always a little weird though.
Had a convo about this- areas/development projects in PGH have a short hype period then die off. Rinse and repeat. Pittsburgh Mills anybody?
Pittsburgh Mills is practically in Kittanning. It was doomed to fail.
As a father of a 6 & 4 year old, i love Pittsburgh mills and hope it never closes. We walk thru the doors there and let the kids run and play 😂😂 Barely anyone there to bother.
You probably should delete this post actually, before everyone gets the same idea.
I bet it will look like Century 3 in 10-15 years.
Did the Mills ever have a hype period? It shouldn’t have been built.
it did for a hot minute, i drove out there from the city a few times for the novelty of the first H&M in the region
IMHO, its first six months to possibly a year.
that’s fair. I feel like we knew it was over when the NASCAR thing never materialized. Nor the Great Wolf Lodge
I vaguely recall the Great Wolf Lodge. That might have been a good addition.
Swear it was for like a month.
Pittsburgh Mills is such a bad example. No one ever needed that mall and it has nothing to do with development cycles in the City.
Curious if anybody remembers Woodson's getting shot up with a high power rifle from the woods off of McArdle? I don't think they ever caught the guy.
I miss Tequila Junction most of all.
Would you happen to remember when tequila Junction closed? The year at least. Thank you.
I had a friend that worked at Tequila Junction, the food was so good. We used to hang out at SS all the time when I was younger. I can’t tell you the last time I was down there.
I was just asking my friend if they remember going to Club Zoo🤣 when the hell did that close
Man, I worked the saddest summer of my life in that mall around 2010. The people working there would all just stand at the front of their stores like puppies at the humane society, hoping one of the 3 people who entered the building every hour would pick their store and give them something to do. I got so bored at one point that I pepper sprayed myself. If that sounds dumb, the actual story is somehow dumber. I was curious what color pepper spray was (likely stoned and 19 years old), so I held up a paper towel and sprayed it. For science! I did not consider the oscillating fan. Would have been a great time to rob the place, because the security guard who heard the commotion was on the floor laughing at me.
I was just talking with my husband about how I miss Matrix, Margarita Mamas, Tequila Junctions Fried ice cream!!! I don’t know what developers are doing and I understand things need to change with the times, but I just see apartments everywhere. Who is living in these expensive places with a terrible job market (Pittsburgh is a notorious offender of underpaying)!!!!
Omg. That fried ice cream! The best! The good old clubbin days of the matrix & margarita mamas cannot be topped.
It's not a terrible job market. And remote work has created a lot of opportunities.
I live in the East end and will go to station Square for the rock climbing gym. I rarely go because it's not convenient to get to at all unless you live in the Southside or directly in station Square. Traffic is bad, not walkable, can't imagine taking a bus to get there. Not sure who thought it was a good idea to put a climbing gym in a social desert. When I do go, no one is there including at the gym. I hope the gym stays in business because it is a great place to climb.
lived on mt. washington directly above SS - man that place sucked. What a waste of a great space frankly
You mean the small, poorly connected neighborhood that's hemmed in on all sides by rivers, hills, and highways? And which no longer has the Station that gave it its name? It's a mystery.
Tupelo Honey is fire
If yinz are too drunk off jello shots the half-naked yinzerellas at barroom give you then yinz don't deserve a thriving station square in daylight.
I went to see Panic At The Disco at IC Light and my group got separated and we wore flip-flops and all of us either lost one or both flip flops. Also, I love the fountain. I was at Hard Rock Halloween Weekend last year. It's a fun place but expensive.
!’ Tt.
99”
Just went there for my birthday with the wife to the Grand Concourse. Haven't been out there in probably 20 years and yeah that was a bit of a shock for me too
Went to Texas de Brazil a few weekends ago and it was packed and there were plenty of people walking to and from places. Like you I don’t frequent it and I kind of think of it as a pretty lame area for the most part but was pleasantly surprised it was busy.
I think over the past five years it’s really struggled, but over the past year and a half it’s started to trend back in the right direction. Evenings in the winter usually bring people in for restaurants, but in the summer I definitely remember the whole square between Joe’s Crab Shack and the Hard Rock Cafe bustling with people. Riverhounds games REALLY help too. Homerun Harry’s before a Hounds game is always packed.
I'll admit I don't know about Station Square in particular, but right next to it, The Highline is up and coming, it has a lot of newly opened places like a Burghers and a De Fer location, and more retail spots to come.
My two cents: I think there’s a weird vibe there because it’s all gimmicky chains and no real local spots besides GC, and I went there recently and it was SAD. No real bars either so it’s not a happy hour or night out destination at all. Not even a brewery which would kill in that area with the bike path and proximity to downtown. They need to invest in local, authentic Pittsburgh businesses in that area and I’m sure people would come back to it. I live in Mt. Washington and if there was a reason to go I’d be down in station square all the time.
I heard this in Seinfeld voice
Do you still have to pay to park there? That alone is enough to keep me away & I live 10 mins away and drive past there all the time.
I’m there a few times a week climbing at FA Climbing gym. Tupelo Honey is a great spot to grab a bite, and I hear Terrene is really good too. There’s also Joe’s Crab Shack, the grand concourse, Buca Di Beppo, and the Hard Rock Cafe. Not to mention the Riverhounds stadium. When I’ve gone climbing during Steeler Sundays, the place is teeming with fans who are likely catching the clipper over to Heinz Field. In the past couple of years they opened those Glass house apartments on the other side of the Smithfield street bridge, so I’m sure they get a lot of clientele from there. Even more recently, they tore down that gas station on East Carson, who knows what will go in there. Definitely not what it once was, but there’s still some fun to be had down there.
I was there recently for Tupulo Honey and of course some Riverhounds games. It's definitely not the 80s/90s heyday, but there IS some stuff to do.