Walkabout: Western Avenue diners now see the appeal in menu of options
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Daytime customers fill the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe on Western Avenue.
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For many years, I would be on Western Avenue in Allegheny West thinking, "This street has so much potential."
There were a few places I liked: the Modern, the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe, Peppi's sub shop and Lindo's -- all still there. But the street didn't have much pulse, and for every restaurant that was there, two more were going away. We saw the coming and going of Cafe Victoria, Cafe Victoria II, Muriel's, the Shamrock Inn and four at the same address.
In less than a decade, 900 Western has seen the coming and going of True, 900, Cassis and now the Brix Woodfired Wine Bar. The sign on the door reads "Temporarily closed." Its owners could not be reached to indicate how temporary it might be.
Since it opened in September, it has closed, reopened and closed due to problems with building inspection and zoning. Residents throughout the North Side have lamented its brevity, but no one is rooting harder for Brix to resolve its problems with the city than the other restaurateurs.
"Brix was such a welcome addition," said Joe Sokol, kitchen manager at the Modern Cafe and Little Deli.
On Friday, I walked up and down the street, watching people coming in and going out of restaurants, and saw restaurant tables full or filling up.
Brix filled a niche as a classy option for a night out, and in years past, losing a good joint may have been a gut punch to the street. People would love to have it back, but Western Avenue may finally have the traction it needs without it.
Recent infrastructure improvements have helped. In the past two years, a $1.7 million streetface improvement project has created new sidewalks, curbs, street trees and historic lighting.
At the same time, Muhammad and Rubina Waheed set out to change the dowdy look of Lindo's, which they have owned for five years. They hired architect Jason Roth to design a handsome new storefront.
"Appearance-wise, the whole street kind of pops," said Nick Mastros, who owns the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe, which turns 30 in June.
On Friday, the place was packed. With loyal regulars for both breakfast and lunch, "things have gone well for us for a long time," he said. "But the diversity we have now is key. It creates an energy."
First Published February 14, 2012 12:00 am
