Feast on Brilliant opens in Aspinwall

About a year after community staple Brilliant Market closed its doors, Feast on Brilliant is ready to pick up where it left off.

The Aspinwall shop opened earlier this month after a nearly 10-month project to transform the store. Patti Danforth of Aspinwall now owns the business and rents the store from Joe Zuccaro, whose family used to own Brilliant Market.

“We gutted it,” Danforth said of the building. “The only thing that's still original is the butcher's block from the ‘30s.”

Keeping the butcher's block was important to connect the new store to the history of Brilliant Market.

“People who live in Fox Chapel and Aspinwall who grew up going to this market, they could be 60 years old now and they remember that butchers block back in the kitchen,” she said.

The store has two trained chefs on staff and offers soups made from scratch, sandwiches and a variety of other items. It also stocks unique and local items.

“We try to source locally when possible,” Danforth said.

Danforth said she has worked in retail her entire career. This is the first business she has owned.

“It's been great. I wouldn't trade it,” Danforth said.

Danforth said she envisions the store as an alternative to larger grocery stores and chains.

“We want to be the alternative to the big box,” Danforth said.

So far, the reaction from customers has been good, Danforth said.

The shop stays open until 7 p.m. during the week, something families have appreciated, she said.

“They're thrilled that we're open until 7, understanding what the community needs,” Danforth said.

Danforth said she wants the store to fill a need for the community and be a place that everyone can visit.

“We're really trying to be sensitive to what the neighborhood needs,” Danforth said. “We don't want to be that Tiffany's market.”

Tom McGee is an associate editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-856-7400, ext. 1513, or tmcgee@tribweb.com.