Cellars Speakeasy, the moody Prohibition-style hideaway tucked beneath Cadence at the Strip in Pittsburgh’s Strip District, has poured its last round of regular dinner and cocktail service after three and a half years.
The basement bar and dining room, which debuted in fall 2022 below the multi-concept Cadence at the Strip complex, has halted public restaurant operations while event and retail business in the building continues upstairs.
A brief “Closed to Public” note now greets visitors on the Cellars Speakeasy site, thanking guests and staff for their support and listing the Strip District address and contact details.
Cadence+ founder and CEO Craig Cozza told TribLIVE that the building, which houses the CityLine Event Center and a Pro Bike + Run shop above the former speakeasy, is very much staying open. Common Plea Catering will keep managing events there. Cozza pointed to shifting customer habits, including a stronger pull toward outdoor dining when the weather warms up, as one factor in the decision and said Common Plea is “refiguring what the reboot looks like” for the Cellars space.
What’s next for the space
Common Plea Catering continues to list the CityLine Event Center among its venues and is still promoting full-service catering and private events at locations across Pittsburgh. Its portfolio highlights a wide range of partner sites, suggesting that private bookings at 2400 Smallman Street can roll on even as the public-facing Cellars service goes dark for now.
Where Cellars fit in the building
Cadence+ moved into the 19th-century brick building at 24th and Smallman in 2019, transforming the top floor into the CityLine event space and later opening the Cellars basement level in 2022, according to TribLIVE. For the moment, Cadence+, Common Plea and the Pro Bike + Run shop are all operating as usual while they sort out whether the former speakeasy will see a fresh concept or a full-on restaurant comeback.
