Hambone's once-popular watering hole and community staple is getting a second wind under a new name and vision. Butler Street Derby is set to take over the space at 4207 Butler St. tomorrow, reviving a nightlife scene many Lawrenceville locals have sorely missed since Hambone’s closure in 2020. According to a report by TribLIVE, the venue will now offer DJ sets, signature cocktails, and an assorted menu featuring burgers and wings.
The extensive renovations have been characterized as a "complete gut renovation," reported by TribLIVE, transforming the former down-to-earth bar into a modernized two-level establishment—while the first floor offers a sports bar aura, the second is dedicated to dancing and live events, Jack Welsh, a co-owner of Butler Street Derby, shed light on the remodeled interiors which now include a 30-person island bar and an open outdoors space replete with a fully stocked bar and televisions, with the outdoor area remaining accessible for at least the next few weeks despite seasonal changes.
Synergy among Derby's proprietors, including individuals such as Corey Deasy and Marcus Trunzo—who bring a wealth of experience from other Pittsburgh nightlife fixtures like The Flats on Carson—promises a blend of new offerings and respectful nods to the past. Owners revealed plans to incorporate, in one form or another, memories of Hambone’s, buoyed by community feedback and a shared interest in seeing the space reinvigorated. As Welsh told TribLIVE, there's an openness to reintroducing past favorites like game nights and perhaps inviting live music and comedy acts.
In a heartfelt testament to the project's significance, Deasy articulated the profound personal connections fueling the revamp, stating, "It's an honor to bring Butler Street Derby to life in a neighborhood that holds such deep roots for my family," as detailed by WPXI. This venture, far from being a mere business move, resonates with sentimental value as an homage to Deasy's Lawrenceville lineage and a tribute to the community's heritage—a sentiment that seemingly underscores the establishment's transformation from the beloved old Hambone’s into its new iteration.
With grand opening celebrations set to commence from 4 p.m. tomorrow, the Butler Street Derby team is anticipating the warm embrace of Pittsburgh nightlife enthusiasts, offering hours that accommodate the after-work crowd during the weekdays as well as early risers on the weekend, ultimately writing a new chapter in Lawrenceville's storied and ever-evolving social landscape.
