No more Outback at PNC Park
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Monday that the Outback Steakhouse at PNC Park -- one of the original restaurants to locate at the home of the Pirates when it opened in 2001 -- closed at end of business Friday.
The baseball team said in a statement that the closing was a "mutual decision" by Outback, the Pirates and Aramark, which operates concessions at PNC Park, to open what had been an exclusive area to all fans attending Pirates games.
In the past, only those with tickets to a game could go to the restaurant during games. Pirates' spokesman Brian Warecki said the ball club will partner with Aramark to transform the space, located above PNC Park's left field bleachers, into a new restaurant and entertainment venue in time for the 2008 season.
The steakhouse's closing comes at a time when restaurants are multiplying on the North Shore and after the baseball team suffered its 15th straight losing season. Attendance at PNC Park was down this year, to just under 1.75 million at 79 home games from 1.86 million in 2006.
Warecki said the new concept will be similar to the Chop House in Atlanta's Turner Field -- a casual dining and bar atmosphere, with wait staff service for all fans. Details will be presented in coming months.
"This new concept will open a previously exclusive area of the ballpark to all fans," said Frank Connelly, Pirates president. "It is our responsibility to ensure that our city remains home to the best ballpark in America."
Calls to the Outback's parent company in Tampa, Fla., were not returned. Warecki said Outback employees who worked at PNC Park have been offered opportunities at the restaurant chain's five other area locations, in the south and north suburbs along with Monroeville, Moon and Washington. Outback has more than 800 restaurants in the United States and is in 21 other countries.
Other restaurants still open at PNC Park are Atria's, Elliott's Off Broadway and Vincent's Pizza. In 2005, Atria's doubled its space at PNC Park to 4,200 square feet with a 700-square-foot mezzanine.
Hi-Tops Sports Bar, across the street from PNC Park, closed in October, with a representative of that restaurant citing poor quality baseball as a reason. Warecki said the Outback closing is not "any indication as to business here on the North Shore."
Several new restaurants -- McFadden's, Jerome Bettis' Grill 36 and Calico Jack's Cantina -- have opened near the North Shore's two stadiums in recent months, and others are planned.
David Cudnik, general manager at Atria's, said business at the PNC Park location has been flat compared to last year, but "I consider that pretty good" considering the Hi-Tops and Outback closings, and new competition for entertainment dollars in the neighborhood.
The restaurant relies heavily on large parties such as corporate events and rehearsal dinners, especially between baseball seasons, he said, and it does a good lunch trade.
