Despite some recent setbacks, steakhouses haven’t lost their appetite for Pittsburgh.
Sullivan’s Steakhouse has signed a 10-year lease to occupy a 7,600-square-foot space on the first floor of U.S. Steel Tower on Grant Street, Downtown, on the side facing Seventh Avenue. It is scheduled to open in the fall.
The Denver-based chain will replace Red, another steakhouse that closed in September 2018, less than a year after it opened.
Red’s demise hasn’t curbed Sullivan’s enthusiasm for the space or Pittsburgh, said Herky Pollock, the CBRE executive vice president who represented the steakhouse, along with colleague Ken Stern.
“They scouted the whole country for opportunities during COVID and found their customer was tremendously prevalent in Pittsburgh, despite the number of high-quality steakhouses already here,” he said.
“All of [the steakhouses] are above chain average, and as such, they believe there’s a niche for them to be highly successful.”
On its website, Sullivan’s — owned by Dividend Restaurant Group, the same company that operates Romano’s Macaroni Grill — describes itself as being “rooted in the rich tradition of classic steakhouses, but with a lively twist that turns every meal into a night to remember.”
Its menu features both bone-in and hand-cut steaks, rack of lamb, and fresh seafood, including lobster tails, crab cakes, Alaskan king crab legs, ahi tuna steak and crab-stuffed shrimp. Like many other upscale steakhouses, side dishes are a la carte.
The Pittsburgh restaurant will be Sullivan’s second in Pennsylvania, with the other being in King of Prussia. In all, the chain operates in 13 cities, including Anchorage, Alaska; Baltimore; Baton Rouge, La.; Charlotte, N.C.; Indianapolis; Omaha, Neb.; Palm Desert, Calif.; Raleigh, N.C.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Wilmington, Del.
Sullivan’s will add to a menu already stuffed with steakhouses in or near Downtown, including Ruth’s Chris, Morton’s, Capital Grille, Eddie Merlot’s and Hyde Park on the North Shore.
Nonetheless, Mr. Pollock believes Sullivan’s can find its own niche.
“Their depth and breadth of product is unique in that they appeal to both men and women alike,” he said. “They also have an option of a fixed-price menu that may be appealing to some consumers.”
More than $40 million a year in sales are generated by the steakhouses in or near Downtown, he noted.
“So, obviously, that proves that there’s strong demand in our urban core for this type of fine dining,” Mr. Pollock said, adding that the existing steakhouses are doing “exceptionally well.”
“Pittsburgh loves their high-quality steakhouses, as do tourists,” he added.
Recently, however, the market has been anything but mouthwatering for a couple of steakhouses.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse backed out of a deal to locate in the Union Trust Building, precipitating a lawsuit last May by The Davis Companies, the building owner.
In addition, Davio’s, a Boston-based northern Italian steakhouse, ended up not locating in the former Frank & Seder department store now under redevelopment on Smithfield Street, triggering another lawsuit.
Despite those hiccups, Mr. Pollock believes Sullivan’s is well-positioned to thrive in the market.
“I think the location’s great. First of all, there’s a tremendous void on that side of town given the closure of both Red and the closing of the Carlton,” he said. “That, coupled with the growth of the arena district, promises to make this a great amenity to bridge Downtown with Uptown.”
Mark Belko: mbelko@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1262.
First Published: June 2, 2021, 9:27 a.m.
