Pamela's Diner will move to larger site
Pamela's Diner plans to close its 5813 Forbes Ave. location this year and open a new store at 1711 Murray Ave., the former site of Panera Bread.
Pamela's has leased about 4,500 feet at the Murray Avenue location, which is three times the space of the Forbes site, said Gail Klingensmith, co-owner with Pamela Cohen of the restaurant.
Pamela's opened its first restaurant in Squirrel Hill in 1980 in the Forbes site.
"Our new space will be larger than the size we have on Forbes, and hopefully most of our customers who haven't been seated will wait inside for a seat at the new location and not need to spill out on to the sidewalk as what happens at Forbes," Klingensmith said.
The new site will have something new. About 1,200 square feet of the space will house a new restaurant, called Aji, that features South and Central American foods, including Peruvian, Klingensmith said.
One kitchen will serve both restaurants.
"While Pamela's is mostly a daylight diner, the other restaurant will open during the evenings — something new for us," she said.
"We will close our Forbes Avenue location the day before we open our new Murray Avenue restaurant on June 1," she added.
About six full-time employees are at the Forbes location, but Klingensmith expects to increase the number at the new Pamela's to about 10 or 12 full-time workers.
Pamela's is famous for its wafer-thin crispy edged hotcakes. However, its breakfast menu includes California French Toast, omelets, Lyonnaise potatoes and other traditional breakfast items. Additional menu items not available at the Forbes site will be included.
At the new site Pamela's will offer outdoor eating. Sliding garage-like glass doors at the front will open to the outside, Klingensmith said.
Rocco DeDomenico of Rockwel Realty, owner of both the Forbes and Murray avenue sites, said he has started to market the Forbes locations to other possible tenants.
Other Pamela's locations are at 60 21st St., Strip District; 5527 Walnut St., Shadyside; 232 North Ave., Millvale; 3703 Forbes Ave., Oakland; and 427 Washington Road, Mt. Lebanon.
