Stay up-to-date on what’s coming, going, and changing in the Northside business community with The Northside Chronicle’s monthly Northside Business Briefs. This month’s briefs feature Caruso Beer Distribution, Allegheny Elks Lodge #339, PCTV, Wagsburgh, and Pear and the Pickle.

By Ashlee Green

Photo: Northsiders Barrett* and Morgan Lipkin, pictured here with their dogs, took part in Wagsburgh’s fifth annual “kissing booth,” a Valentine’s Day-themed, in-store photo shoot with photographer Debbie Thomas. Held on Feb. 6, the event sold out and raised $500 for Bridge to Home, a foster-based animal rescue in Eighty-Four, Pa.

Caruso Beer Distribution permanently closes its doors

Sam Caruso, who’s been in the beer distribution business since taking over for his father in 1968, has retired.

Caruso Beer Distribution, previously on North Taylor Avenue in Allegheny City Central, had various locations throughout its history, but began as a business in 1933 by Caruso’s father.

Caruso had limited hours at the shop in its last few years: three days a week for four or five hours at a time.

“I’m kind of retired now,” Caruso joked in an article for The Incline back in 2018. 

This time, though, it’s legit.

Allegheny Elks Lodge #339 to host annual ‘Fat Tuesday’ celebration

Tuesday, March 1 marks “Fat Tuesday,” the end of Mardi Gras season. 

It’s the last day for select themed events and specials in many Northside restaurants and establishments. At the annual Fat Tuesday party at Allegheny Elks Lodge #339 in Historic Deutschtown, it’s also a chance to “let the good times roll,” according to Lodge President Michael Douglass in a press release.

The event will feature New Orleans-style food and beverages. Dixie Doc and the Pittsburgh Dixieland All-Stars as well as Colonel Eagleburger’s Highstepping Goodtime Band will entertain with live music performances, and WESA’s Larry Berger will be crowned this year’s Northside Mardi Gras King.

“We are happy to sponsor this wonderful, joyous event once again,” said Tony Rocco, president of Wesbanco, the lead sponsor of the event. “We all need a reason to smile these days!”

The event runs from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 a piece and available for cash only, exclusively at the door. Food and beverages are also available for cash only. Guests are encouraged to dress in festive clothing and wear beads. They are also encouraged to be vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19 or to have a recent negative COVID-19 test. Allegheny Elks Lodge #339 is located at 400 Cedar Ave. 

PCTV expanding staff with new Director of Media Education position

Pittsburgh Community Television (PCTV), the city’s public access TV station, is hiring a Director of Media Education. The full-time position will lead and carry out all PCTV media education efforts.

The mission of PCTV is to “empower, educate, and enhance the Greater Pittsburgh community through media.” The station was founded in 1986 and its programming facility is located on Pittsburgh’s Northside. 

Recruitment for this position closes on March 22, 2022. Find out more information at https://www.pctv21.org/jobs.

Wagsburgh hosts fifth annual ‘kissing booth’ 

The Valentine’s Day-themed “kissing booth” for pets was back at Wagsburgh this year, with donations benefiting Bridge To Home Animal Rescue.

The event, which took place on Feb. 6, sold out and raised $500 for Bridge to Home, a foster-based rescue in Eighty Four, Pa. Photography was provided by Debbie Thomas. 

Wagsburgh, the Northside’s specialty pet food and products store, is located at 632 E. Ohio St. in Historic Deutschtown or online at https://www.wagspgh.com/. Find out more about Bridge to Home on their website at https://www.bridgetohome84.org/.

That’s it for Pear and the Pickle

Pear and the Pickle, Troy Hill’s beloved coffee shop and eatery, has announced via Instagram that they’re permanently closing their doors. 

The announcement, which took place on Feb. 18 and was dedicated to the “friends, neighbors, customers, [and] customers who have become lifelong friends and lovers of a good egg sandwich” said that the “romance” that the owners had at one time with their small business has “faded away.”

Back in December of 2021, The Northside Chronicle reported that the Pear and the Pickle was undergoing a temporary closure to step away from their business in order to “catch [their] breath” and “figure out [their] next step.” A permanent closure, they ultimately decided, was the answer. 

“Life is too short to continue doing something that doesn’t bring joy,” the owners wrote. “To put it simply, it’s not you, it’s us.”

*Editor’s note 3/3/2022 Barrett Lipkin’s name was misspelled in the print edition of our paper. We regret the error.