North side -- Chestnut Street (Pittsburgh, Millvale: real estate, 2013, loan)

[RogersParkTransplant]

Originally Posted by norcider

White Tower/White Castle, I suspect they were somehow linked because of the size, shape and color of the buildings. Cheap burger and fries joint. Pittsburgh had numerous White Castle establishments. From memory:

Cedar Avenue a couple of doors down from the Italian ice place.
Chestnut and Progress, across from Heinz, the tile entrance is still there but the building was demolished back in the 90's.
In town, 6th Ave IIRC near the old Fulton theater.

I know there were others but many were gone by the late 80's.+

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Castle_(restaurant)


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Tower_Hamburgers

Oh, thanks! I know White Castle, had no idea there was ever a version called White Tower. I would be all for cheap burgers and fries, of course...

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by norcider

I don't know because I don't associate with people like that. I do frequent the area on a weekly basis and I do not see any hookers on Chestnut. I will see one from time to time on or near E. Ohio. Most drug dealing is done in the open from my observations.

I was talking about the star lounge, we stopped there after work one time. There was open drug dealing at the tables and girls looking for company out in the open. It was not a good place to be.

[Geeo]

I frequented the White Tower on Craig Street in Oakland as a young poor person starting out. 99 cent pancake breakfast and counter seating. The waitress would look at you and say "yours?" and you'd give her your order.

[norcider]

They were indeed called White Tower here in Pittsburgh whether or not the business was related to White Castle. I only remember eating at the ones in the North Side and they were tiny little burgers. I have to reference the Beasties song where they say "White Castle fries only come in one size" when I have difficulty remembering which restaurants were in Pittsburgh.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

I'm detecting a little bit of sarcasm here, but I personally think that there is a need for low-brow establishments in Pittsburgh too. I heard they want to open a new joint to sell $10 bowls of ramen noodles on Butler Street. That's fine, but I think we need places to attract the hoi polloi as well.

I'm sure a traditional diner like Cafe on Main in Sharpsburg would do pretty good business there. That said, I'm not sure you could make enough money on a traditional diner to recoup the cost of rehabbing a building which was falling apart.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm sure a traditional diner like Cafe on Main in Sharpsburg would do pretty good business there. That said, I'm not sure you could make enough money on a traditional diner to recoup the cost of rehabbing a building which was falling apart.

I wouldn't consider the Café on Main a "traditional diner" at all, given how limited their hours are. Additionally, their breakfast easily transcends typical fare. I assume you've been, eschaton?

[RogersParkTransplant]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I'm sure a traditional diner like Cafe on Main in Sharpsburg would do pretty good business there. That said, I'm not sure you could make enough money on a traditional diner to recoup the cost of rehabbing a building which was falling apart.

Agreed -- but that's why I thought of the old Bier House for this. We were in there shortly before it closed, and while it could use some cosmetic work the building itself seems to be in OK shape.

Edit after seeing Merge's comment -- I just meant diner; I don't know the one in Sharpsburg. Something along the lines of Pamelas that served bloody marys and bellinis would be so nice.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Merge

I wouldn't consider the Café on Main a "traditional diner" at all, given how limited their hours are. Additionally, their breakfast easily transcends typical fare. I assume you've been, eschaton?

Not personally - my understanding is the menu isn't vegan friendly. But my mom has been there and raved about the food.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Not personally - my understanding is the menu isn't vegan friendly. But my mom has been there and raved about the food.

The food is excellent, but I agree that the menu is not vegan friendly at all. Eggs and/or cheese in virtually everything.


The service is pretty good too, as long as you don't have to deal with the extremely sour owner.

[brother_rebus]

They should bring a trolley line back in. That would change everything.