Live music pairs perfectly with a glass of wine. That’s the concept behind City Winery, a new Pittsburgh music venue that will open this summer in The Terminal in the Strip District.
The national chain has locations in cities with thriving music scenes, such as Nashville, New York City, Boston and Atlanta — and plans to bring national touring acts to Pittsburgh.
It’s also (obviously) a winery and restaurant with seating for 250 people, both indoors and outdoors. City Winery, which is expected to hire 100 people, will be located on the westernmost end of the massive, blocks-long Terminal. The project is being redeveloped by McCaffery and is nearly complete.
“The dynamism of the city of Pittsburgh, and in particular, the Strip District, has caught the attention of this nationally renowned entertainment venue,” says Dan McCaffery, CEO of McCaffery. “City Winery’s presence in the neighborhood provides a new and exciting reason to visit The Terminal, Penn Avenue and indeed the entire Strip District.”
City Winery is known for its state-of-the-art Meyer Sound system, as well as a proprietary tap system with “eco-friendly glasses of wine straight from stainless steel kegs.” City Winery also serves its own brand of wines in dozens of varieties, from chardonnay to pinot blanc and cabernet sauvignon.
“We look forward to being part of the community and adding another stop for our national touring artists and other world-class musicians, bringing them to Pittsburgh for guests to enjoy alongside great wine and dining at this new culinary destination,” says Michael Dorf, City Winery’s founder and CEO.
As an example of the acts that City Winery attracts, its Philadelphia location is hosting comedian Kyle Gordon, Roomful of Blues and Richard Lloyd, guitarist of the iconic punk band Television. Upcoming shows at the New York City location include Melissa Etheridge, soul singer Eli “Paperboy” Reed and R&B/producer duo Zo! and Tall Black Guy.
Similar programming could be headed to Pittsburgh. The Strip District was once Pittsburgh’s live music destination, with the Metropol and Rosebud both across Smallman Street from the Terminal.
The Terminal is a historic 1929 building that spans multiple city blocks and was once home to much of the city’s wholesale produce industry. Now, it’s been redeveloped into a mixed-use development, including 160,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and offices.
City Winery’s arrival comes soon after the announcement of other major tenants, including an all-local Asian food hall featuring the considerable culinary talents behind Everyday Noodles and Mola, as well as Puttshack, a giant indoor mini-golf concept.