October 24, 2024

Atria’s 1930

A black chalkboard sandwich board with white hand writing sitting on a red brick sidewalk with a black metal bench to the right and a vintage looking orange bicycle with a white seat and wheels and a building (on the left) with brown siding, large windows with dark green awnings and people sitting at patio tables with red umbrellas (on the right) in the background. — Atria’s on Beverly Road is minting a new concept, with high-end cocktails, an expanded whiskey selection and a chef-inspired rotating menu. Photo: Christopher Leeper

Atria’s, 110 Beverly Road, is about to get a new name to go along with a brand-new concept.

“It’s going to be a modern-day Prohibition-style cocktail bar with modern chef-inspired food,” said Patrick McDonnell, general manager of Atria’s Mt. Lebanon and beverage director for Atria’s and Juniper Grill.

The new name will be 1930 by Atria’s, hearkening back to the year the original Atria’s opened as a grocery store. Once Prohibition ended, Joe Atria began to sell beer and later turned the establishment into a bar and restaurant.

Black and white vintage photo of a brick storefront with the word groceries spelled out in all caps beside a horizontal sign that says J. Atria Beer over a metal awning and a large glass window and a door showcasing a variety of advertising posters. — Original Atria’s opened as a grocery store. Photo: provided by Atria’s

In case you’re wondering, the rebranding is only for the Mt. Lebanon location. Atria’s Murrysville and Peters Township restaurants will remain the same.

In 1998, Pittsburgh natives Pat and Nancy McDonnell transformed Joe Atria’s Mt. Lebanon landmark into an upscale casual restaurant, with a focus on fresh foods, fresh seafood, and a selection of steaks and sandwiches. “It’s just a great community and it had a great reputation, so I bought it and we kept the name,” said Pat McDonnell, CEO and founder of Atria’s and Juniper Grill Concepts.

But times have changed in those 26 years, with spirits, in general, becoming more upscale and creative. “The demographic has changed to being younger and a bit more discerning,” McDonnell added.

Hence, the addition of craft cocktails and shareables, with a large whiskey collection and a menu rotating every four to six weeks.

But don’t fret, longtime Atria’s fans. Atria’s staple items aren’t going anywhere. They may be presented a bit differently, but choices like the pot roast nachos, chopped salad, cheddar burgers and chicken marsala will remain, as will the yearly Oktoberfest menu.

“Next year as soon as we do the transition, we’re still going to have some of the items from the Oktoberfest menu. It’s just going to be, let’s say, a little bit differently plated, but the flavors are still going to be there,” according to Erick Munoz, executive chef at Atria’s Mt. Lebanon.

The last day of service for Atria’s Mt. Lebanon will be New Year’s Eve. After it closes for remodeling, it’s scheduled to reopen as 1930 by Atria’s in February 2025.