PITTSBURGH — It has been an awful year for the restaurant and bar industry, and Pittsburgh eateries were not immune.
Mandated shut down orders in the spring decimated revenue, and the customer capacity limits for indoor consumption of food and drink as well as other restrictions imposed since March by local and state health officials to try and curb the spread of the coronavirus haven’t helped the industry recoup its losses. Now, indoor dining is banned until Jan. 4, and many in the industry have decided to close for good due to financial hardships caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Employment in the sector also remains down from this time last year. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry reported that the commonwealth employed 280,800 workers in restaurants and other eating places in November, a figure down 74,800, or 21%, compared to the 355,600 workers who held these jobs over the same time period last year.
These are just some of the notable Pittsburgh restaurants and bars that have closed throughout the region this year, with many opting to shutter for good:
Bloomfield
Brillobox, a bar located in the 4100 block of Penn Avenue, announced on Aug. 3 that it would be shutting down after 15 years of business.
Mixtape announced in a Facebook post on July 20 that it would be closing its business for good citing complications caused by the pandemic.
Alexander’s Italian Bistro announced in a Facebook post on May 1 that it would be closing permanently after operating for more than 50 years on Liberty Avenue.
Howlers, a live music venue that operated for more than two decades, announced its plans to close on April 24 via a Facebook post and cited the pandemic as the reason for its shuttering.
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