The Panther Pit Bar and Grill, once a bustling establishment located near the University of Pittsburgh campus, has been put up for sale after a series of legal troubles. This follows a mandate for a yearlong closure stemming from an Allegheny County judge ruling in November 2024, which designated the bar as a public nuisance. The bar was found to operate as an unlicensed speakeasy and had failed to check IDs, thereby attracting underage patrons, as reported by WTAE.
David Glickman, President of Keystone Real Estate Advisors, revealed that the property was listed on March 1 with an asking price of $795,000. According to CBS News Pittsburgh, he touted the location as a "rare Oakland opportunity" due to its proximity to a high concentration of students, faculty, and medical workers. Despite the Panther Pit's history, Glickman insists that past illegal activities are "irrelevant" to a new owner, who can use the property as they see fit, according to a TribLIVE interview. Glickman further stated he expects mostly interest from bar and restaurant operators, given the property's fully equipped setup for such a business.
The former owners, Kenneth Plumb, aged 56, and Prasad Margabandhu, aged 44, are scheduled to stand trial for violating Pennsylvania liquor laws. This legal action follows multiple raids conducted by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, alongside city and county agencies, seizing substantial quantities of liquor and beer.
