Sports Grille at Cranberry Now to Make Debut Friday

After a few false starts, owner Sean Pregibon promises the new The Sports Grille at Cranberry will open Friday, Sept 28.

“We’re really excited to get open and to prove ourselves to everyone,” he said.

Located at the former Uno Chicago Grill on Freedom Road, the family-friendly Sports Grille at Cranberry originally was supposed to open Sept. 1, in time for the University of Pittsburgh's home opener football games versus Youngstown State, Pregibon's hometown team.

After construction delayed the opening, Pregibon targeted Sept. 9, the first home game for the Steelers, for the restaurant’s debut, but said work on The Sports Grille ran behind schedule.

“We’d rather be open and be ready,” he said. “We just wanted to make sure we didn’t rush it.”

Instead, the restaurant, a franchise of Pregibon’s Youngstown Sports Grille—which was open for about a decade in Ohio before closing in March—will have a soft opening at 2 p.m. Friday.

Following that, Pregibon said the restaurant would be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. In the future, he plans to hold “VIP” nights for local coaches and athletic organization and The Chamber of Commerce.

General Manger Josh Wolk, who also worked with Pregibon in Youngstown, added the original restaurant was known for its high level of customer service. That won't change at the Cranberry location, he said.

‘It’s what built this company,” he said. “We’re just really excited to bring that here.”

As of Tuesday evening, workers were busy hanging televisions and adding fixtures—including specialty football helmet lights above the tables— to the remodeled restaurant.

Among the changes are an expanded bar and garage doors leading to an outside patio. Fenced off from the parking lot, the 1,400-square foot outdoor patio will feature live, acoustic entertainment while the weather is warm, Pregibon said.

Once the weather turns cooler, the acts will move to a small stage area set up in the bar. The sport-themed restaurant also features 34 high-definition, flat-screen televisions with surround sound and a separate banquet area.

On the restaurant side, there will be a play area for kids with games and toys, Pregibon said. He said children always are welcome at the restaurant, which will cater to athletics, both local and professional.

A father of two little ones, the Youngstown-based Pregibon said hopes local sports organization will bring in items from their teams that can be showcased in the restaurant.

“Everyone is welcome to drop off sport memorabilia,” he said.