Momentum continues in Market Square (Pittsburgh, Warren: to live, shop, move)

[greg42]

The folks at Winghart's are great aren't they? That's half the appeal right there. Tara and Crushin are extremely good at remembering people even after just a couple visits, and they give everyone a warm welcome. Although I suspect most people after a couple visits are in there fairly regularly. I go about every few weeks.

The only thing they really could use there is more space. They're going to run out of possible places to find it with the way things are going downtown. Plus, it's pretty cool as is, not everyone's cup of tea I'm sure, but I like it.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by pman

undisclosed restaurant? I thought it was il pizziaola?

I believe that was correct. Although maybe it won't be called that. Or maybe they've backed out? I dunno. But they were mentioned before.

[SteelCityRising]

Still closing my eyes and clicking my heels together hoping for a Chick-Fil-A!

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

Still closing my eyes and clicking my heels together hoping for a Chick-Fil-A!

How you can eat their food knowing what you know about them astonishes me anew each time you bring it up.

Chick-Fil-A Fast Food Chain Donated Nearly $2 Million To Anti-Gay Groups In 2009

[gg]

Originally Posted by greg42

The only thing they really could use there is more space.

That is usually the kiss of death if you are looking for quality. Expansion is not good. Hope they keep it the same and people deal with a wait.

[BrianTH]

I don't think a little more indoor seating would kill their current business model.

[gg]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

I don't think a little more indoor seating would kill their current business model.

Being someone that has actually owned a restaurant, all I can say is kitchen that get too big always go down hill. One of the reasons certain places are so popular is due to the size. I have never had a great meal at a huge place. Great meals are only at the smaller restaurants. Guess we can agree to disagree. I mean, I have owned a restaurant and the property that was just reassessed I mentioned in another thread is a restaurant/bar. I know the business too well to really have a discussion with you on it. Agree to disagree. Next.

[BrianTH]

But I don't think they need to expand their kitchen--they need to expand their seating to keep up with their existing kitchen.

Incidentally, a little proof of this is that during better weather, lots of people are taking food from Winghart's and eating in the Square and such. Currently there isn't an indoor option that can take in that many people if weather isn't good, but if their current kitchen can handle the load during good weather, it should be able to handle a modest increase in indoor space for bad weather times too.

[greg42]

Well, we'll actually see how this works out in a different way: Winghart's is opening two additional locations, one on the South Side, and one up in Warrendale. I don't know the South Side space, but the Warrendale space is in Warrendale Village, where you see Tamari (has it finally opened) on Rt 19 at Warrendale-Bayne Rd. That space is new, in a little strip mall, larger, appears to have an outdoor patio, etc. Should be interesting to see how it translates.

I get that about the larger kitchen, larger place, downhill, etc, but we're talking burgers here so it may not be that bad. I'm hoping, anyway. Might become a good place to stop off on the way home from work.

You know, I'm guessing the current Market Square space is only really packed through the peak lunch hours. So maybe more space wouldn't actually do them that well most of the time. Don't know.

[gg]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

But I don't think they need to expand their kitchen--they need to expand their seating to keep up with their existing kitchen.

You can think all you like, but once the kitchen is on overload the food quality suffers. Expansion is usually the end of quality.