Panther Pit Bar property for sale in Oakland following closure

After being raided and shut down for operating without a liquor license, the Panther Pit Bar and Grill property in Oakland is now for sale.

Keystone Real Estate Advisors President David Glickman said the property went on the market on March 1 with an asking price of $795,000.

Located on Meyran Avenue, the three-story Panther Pit opened in 2022. Glickman said the property is a “wonderful” and rare opportunity, with three outdoor patios, a full kitchen and two bars.

“There’s a lot of bars and restaurants that are always trying to get into Oakland, but there’s often nothing available,” he said.

Despite illegal activity forcing the bar to close in the fall, Glickman said that’s “irrelevant” and the new owner will “start with a clean slate,” as they can do whatever they’d like with the property. He expects it will most likely stay a bar/restaurant combo, though, due to its existing infrastructure.

“It could become anything; we’re just marketing it as a building for sale,” he said. “The previous tenant was operating a bar illegally … what happened in the past won’t affect the future.”

The Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, in conjunction with city and county agencies, seized nearly 350 gallons of liquor and 80 gallons of beer during a September raid. Law enforcement conducted two similar raids in 2023.

In November, the Allegheny County Sheriff’s Office padlocked the bar after the District Attorney’s Office alleged it was a nuisance bar operating without a liquor license, temporarily closing the business. Common Pleas Judge Dan Regan then ordered that the Panther Pit be closed for at least one year.

Police had been called to the Panther Pit approximately 40 times between January 2023 and October, according to a civil complaint filed by the DA’s office. There were multiple calls for fighting — including one incident with a machete — as well as underage drinking and alcohol poisoning.

Owners of the property Kenneth Plumb, 56, of White Oak, and Prasad Margabandhu, 44, of Murrysville, will face trial for liquor law violations, District Judge Xander Orenstein ordered in late November.

Generating interest

Glickman said he’s seen a lot of interest in the property already.

Though he can’t speak about potential offers, he said those interested include bar and restaurant operators, investors and other types of operators.

“A fully equipped bar/restaurant building coming available in Oakland, I expected a lot of interest,” Glickman said. “Oakland is a high-demand area.”

Despite high demand, the area has low supply in terms of properties because most are owned by just three groups, according to Glickman: the University of Pittsburgh, UPMC and Oakland Real Estate.

“It’s not easy to get into Oakland,” he said.

Glickman said he can’t recall a property like the Panther Pit going on sale for awhile.

He said he feels the asking price of $795,000 is “priced right,” and he’s expecting to have the property sold this summer.

“But one never knows exactly,” Glickman said. “We’re not gonna sell the property to someone who isn’t reputable — we have to keep it reputable.”