Landmark Oakland Tavern Bidding Farewell After 44 Years

PITTSBURGH, PA - University of Pittsburgh students who have gone home for the summer are in for a shock when they return for the fall semester: Peter’s Pub will be gone.

The venerable Oakland Avenue tavern and restaurant’s owners announced on Facebook page that the establishment’s final farewell will be May 25.

“It is with heavy hearts, and tears in our eyes, that we announce our retirement. The Leventis family and staff would like to thank you for all the years of love and support,” the post stated. “Together we have made a beautiful thing. Friendships were made and memories created. In this most important way we have accomplished what we set out to do 44 years ago.”

“While we deeply regret that we cannot continue to do what we love, with an amazing team that has become our family, we will move forward with the warm memories we made with each other and all of you. Deepest thanks to every single person that has walked through our doors since 1974. Without you our dreams could never be accomplished.”

To show its appreciation for customers, Peter’s will offer half-price food and drinks on May 25, its final day of operation.

Patch visited Peter's during the lunch hour Thursday to get patrons' reactions to the impending closure. Here's what they had to say:

Peter’s longevity made it one of the last surviving bars frequented by the 1970s and ‘80s Oakland college crowd. Most of its contemporaries from that era - including the Decade, Upstage, Zelda’s Greenhouse, C.J. Barney’s, the Sanctuary, Luna and Panther Hollow Inn - have been gone for years.

It’s unclear what will become of the Peters’ space. The Leventis family still owns the building, according to Allegheny County property assessment records. But a liquor license transfer notice posted in the front window of Peter's indicates the bar apparently is being purchased by an entity called 5th Year Inc. of Thornburgh.

Photo via Google.

Subscribe to Pittsburgh Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.