Proposed Plum restaurant still on hold

A borough man who proposes a restaurant/sports bar in a building that formerly housed an engineering firm needs more time before going back to the borough planning commission.

For the second time in two months, the planning commission last week held off considering Steve Cioppa's site plan application for Uncle Buckles Restaurant because a geotechnical report has not been completed.

"We are getting it ready," said Matthew E. Smith, engineer for the proposed restaurant and sports bar that Cioppa wants to open in the former Schroeder Engineering building at 1095 Unity-Center Road near the intersection with Saltsburg Road.

The planning commission wants a geotechnical report because Cioppa plans to cut into the slope on the hillside at the site.

Smith anticipates the report will be completed in time for the Sept. 21 planning commission meeting.

Cioppa, 39, owner of Phase One Development Corp., an asbestos abatement company in Plum, said he decided upon a restaurant/sports bar because he wanted a "new venture."

Cioppa said the name came from a nickname that he and friends made up when they were high school students.

"Plum needs something like this," said Matthew E. Smith, project engineer. "It's not going to be paneling and drop ceilings. It's going to be a higher-end product."

Cioppa said he doesn't have an estimate of what it will cost to open the restaurant or a timetable.

"The sooner we get started, the sooner we can rehab (rehabilitate) the building," Smith said.