Pleasure Bar’s future is uncertain: the Bloomfield Italian restaurant’s website describes a renovation, while the building that housed it is being offered for $2 million. PennLive reported that the restaurant, known for dishes including baked ziti, lasagna and ravioli, has closed after more than 80 years.
Pleasure Bar was operated by three families dating back to 1941, according to PennLive. The restaurant served a neighborhood often called Pittsburgh’s Little Italy. One Tripadvisor reviewer described it as “right in the heart of the Little Italy of Pittsburgh in Bloomfield,” and praised its “really good sauce and the meatball was great.”
The property listing covers eight units: four apartments, two ground-floor storefronts and two office spaces. PennLive reported that the listing describes the property as being in excellent condition and advertises an Allegheny County liquor license.
A License Would Need a Transfer
A buyer should not assume the advertised liquor license automatically comes with the building. According to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, a change in ownership requires an application for a person-to-person transfer of an existing license for use at the same location. The board says it cannot issue new retail licenses in counties above their quotas, but that general rule does not establish the status or transferability of Pleasure Bar’s advertised license, according to its quota-system guidance.
What the Listing Says About the License
PennLive reported that Pleasure Bar had made no public announcement about the closure. The restaurant’s website, meanwhile, reportedly described it as temporarily closed for renovations and invited customers to “Come see our gorgeous new space and hours on September 13th!”
The sale listing and the website’s renovation message leave the restaurant’s longer-term plans unclear. The available reporting does not resolve whether Pleasure Bar will reopen or whether the listed property will be sold.
A Neighborhood Staple’s Long Run
A Datanyze profile describes Pleasure Bar as an Italian restaurant and bar led by Chef Kellie Ann Wintkowski and mentions a remodeled party or conference room. The profile says the business has been operating for more than 70 years, a different figure from PennLive’s account of a history dating to 1941.
Patrons have also praised the restaurant’s comfort-food menu. One Tripadvisor reviewer wrote that “leftover baked ziti tasted better the next day,” and liked the seafood alfredo and salmon salad, while noting that “the bar was a zoo” on a busy night. Whether those dishes return to Bloomfield tables remains unclear.
