North Shore a beachhead for more restaurant chains
McFadden's Restaurant and Saloon bills itself as the nation's premier Irish pub and restaurant -- but don't expect the party to start this weekend at its new Pittsburgh location.
The chain operated by New York-based East Coast Saloons is set to open March 29 in the Equitable Resources Inc. building on North Shore Drive.
Another restaurant in the East Coast chain, Tex-Mex-themed Calico Jack's Cantina, will follow about a month later in the nearby Del Monte Foods Co. building. And "based on how Pittsburgh welcomes us," said Harry Hayman, one of the owners, a third restaurant known as Sully's could open somewhere on the North Shore.
The East Coast Saloons restaurants join several existing and planned restaurants in the neighborhood around PNC Park and Heinz Field, although the partnership running one of the most established ventures -- Hi-Tops sports bar and restaurant -- filed Thursday for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy.
Representatives of Hi-Tops Pittsburgh USA LP couldn't be reached for comment yesterday, but indicated more than $1 million in liabilities in their bankruptcy petition. Hi-Tops was operating Friday afternoon.
Hayman said yesterday that he and East Coast's other owner, John Sullivan, intend to boost entertainment options on the North Shore.
PNC Park, Heinz Field and future development plans there drew them to the area. "Five years from now, we won't recognize the place," he said.
The East Coast chain operates 17 restaurants under the McFadden's, Calico Jack's and other names. The first McFadden's opened in 1977 in New York City.
Ex-Steeler Jerome Bettis plans to open a Grill 36 restaurant in the Del Monte building by late May, and the Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse in the Equitable building is vying for entertainment dollars.
Donn Nemchick, a consultant for small businesses who has a North Shore office, has been a frequent customer since Hi-Tops opened in 2002 and said he'll continue going there.
"It's the kind of place Pittsburgh really needs," he said, though he wonders whether the city's shrinking population can support all the businesses planned for the North Shore. "I'm concerned about the over-saturation."
