Restaurant, grocer signed for Cork Factory retail space

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
By Mark Belko,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The owner of the Clark Bar and Grill on the North Side and Caffe Amante, Downtown, plans to open a restaurant and cigar and wine bar as part of the Cork Factory development in the Strip District.

The restaurant is one of two businesses planning to occupy the retail space located directly across the street from the Cork Factory, a 297-unit apartment complex at Railroad and 23rd streets that opened in May.

A specialty grocery store also is in the works. It will occupy nearly half of the 45,000 square feet of retail space available in the 3.5-acre Cork Factory development.

Both the restaurant and the grocer have executed leases and are expected to open for business this spring, according to a news release issued yesterday by Cork Factory developer McCaffery Interests.

“This is a catalyst project that I believe is going to create great change, not only for the Strip but for Downtown Pittsburgh,” said Katie Pliscott, leasing director of McCaffery.

The restaurant will be operated by Angelo Lamatrice and his son, David. The Lamatrices currently own and operate the Clark Bar and Grill on the North Side near the stadiums and Caffe Amante in Fifth Avenue Place, Downtown.

Angelo Lamatrice did not want to talk about the Cork Factory venture yesterday, saying plans were still being finalized.

“It’s early,” he said.

But according to the developer, the restaurant will occupy about 10,000 square feet of space and will feature a “sophisticated” wine and cigar bar. There also will be VIP rooms, Ms. Pliscott said.

The operator of the specialty grocery store has not been identified. Ms. Pliscott would give few details about the store, but said it would be operated by a Pittsburgh businessman.

With the plans for the restaurant and grocer, only about 11,000 square feet of retail space remains in the complex.

Since opening last year, the Cork Factory has rented 87 percent of its units, which range from studio apartments to three-bedroom lofts. Rents run from $1,200 a month to $3,900 a month.

Besides the retail development within the complex, there are plans to develop a full-service marina on the Allegheny riverfront.

Mark Belko can be reached at mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First published on January 30, 2008 at 12:00 am