After five long years, one of the Northside’s most historic bars is back open for business, with new owners and refreshed interior The Park House, which has been in business since 1933, reopened its doors on Dec. 5, marking its return since it closed in 2020. The date of reopening was a poignant one, as it was Repeal Day, the day when the 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution was passed and Prohibition ended.
New owners Michelle and Gary Lynch purchased the bar in 2021, having already become owners of the building in which The Park House resided. Upon its closure, The Park House as a business was put up for sale, but failed to find a buyer until the Lynch’s stepped in.
They’ve spent the intervening years investing in many renovations at The Park House. Patrons at the bar will find it looking very similar to how it used to be.
“We’re hoping it won’t look too different,” said Michelle, adding that most of the renovations were “things people won’t see.”
Most of the work done at The Park House between its purchase and reopening has been to the building’s infrastructure. New plumbing, new electrical systems, new equipment brought in and more means The Park House has seen an upgrade behind the scenes.
That is not to say, however, that nothing has been done with areas customers will visit. The bar top may be the same, but it’s been refinished, giving it a new shine. Holes kicked into the bar were fixed as well, and the rail opposite the bar has been made bigger to make it easier to place drinks and food.
New counter stools for the bar were also purchased, while the bench along the wall across the bar was upholstered for added comfort.
“It has a facelift, and it’s keeping up with the neighborhood,” said Lauren Serra, The Park House’s new bar manager.
Although many things are new at the reopened Park House, the staff have long experience in the industry. Michelle said she’s worked in food service since she was 15, including at a deli, as a server, a bartender and even at a restaurant owned by her brother.
“I was out of the loop for a while, but (buying The Park House) was a natural move, having known almost every facet of the restaurant industry,” she said.
Serra, meanwhile, worked at Northside bar Verdetto’s for around a decade, and called the opportunity at the Park House a “perfect fit.”
As for the food and drinks, The Park House features a new menu, with a wide variety of pizzas, Italian-style dishes and, in what’s turned out to be the best seller so far, meatball rolls.
On the drink side of things, a wide variety of cocktails and drinks on tap are available. One new drink that Serra recommends is called “The Girl Scout,” which she described as a “s’mores martini,” with a charred marshmallow and graham cracker rim.
There are also returning favorites from The Park House’s past. Recently, the new iteration of the bar began offering Irish coffee, partnering with the Northside location of Brave Bean Coffee, a coffee house known for supporting veterans.
Michelle explained that the old Park House was known for offering six different alcoholic coffees, a metric the new version is hoping to meet.
“Right now, we’re starting with the Irish coffee, and then we’re going to grow into it,” she said. “We’re excited about that, because that’s maintaining a tradition from the old Park House.”
The new Park House has also begun booking for private parties, especially in the days around the upcoming NFL Draft. The bar can be rented during its off days, Sundays to Tuesdays, or during its regular business hours for an increased price.
Attendees can also enjoy live music. Aaron Lewinter and The Fortune of Love performs every Friday from 7-10 p.m., while well-known Pittsburgh musician Kenny Blake and his band The New Hip have begun performing Wednesdays from 7-10 p.m.
In addition to the new features, Michelle is hopeful that she and her husband have preserved the “soul” of The Park House, noting that people were very “protective” of the building during the renovations, and wanted to make sure the feel of the original bar wasn’t lost.
“Whatever the space holds, we both say we didn’t ruin it,” she said, later adding that she felt like a “steward” for the beloved bar.
The Park House is located at 403 E. Ohio St. It is open Wednesdays through Saturdays, from 4 p.m. to midnight. For more information, visit parkhouse412.com or call (412) 291-8159.
