On the move: Square Café leaving Regent Square for East Liberty

Square Café will be serving customers in East Liberty come September.

After more than 16 years in the Regent Square section of Edgewood, the restaurant found a new home in the former location of Spoon and BRGR. It is 8,000 square feet with a rooftop deck that, with outdoor heating, can be used nearly year-round.

A few days ago the Square Café Facebook page alluded to something happening.

Spoon and BRGR in early July announced they were closing. Square Café owner Sherree Goldstein said when she heard about the space being available, she talked to the landlord and signed a lease.

The plan is to open in early September. They are currently painting and cleaning the space. She intends to keep all employees and hire some new ones.

Square Café, which serves breakfast and lunch, will eventually be open for dinner and have alcohol, she said.

“It was time,” said Goldstein.”We didn’t feel very welcomed by the borough.”

The issues included a dispute over outdoor seating last year. After placing tables and chairs along the sidewalk, she was told there were too many and they were too close to the sidewalk. It was resolved by the borough council, which allowed the seating to continue.

The most recent situation involved signs she placed in front of the restaurant to alert people that they can order food for pickup or delivery. They let people know Square Cafe was not only delivering meals but also offered to provide everyday essentials such as produce, milk, bread, butter and flour.

She said they received a citation from Edgewood and was treated rudely when she called the borough to discuss the citation.

“We, like every other business, are just trying to survive during this pandemic,” she said.

The Regent Square neighborhood includes portions of the municipalities of Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Swissvale and Wilkinsburg. Square Cafe is on the Edgewood side of South Braddock Avenue. Across the street is Swissvale, where Goldstein owns another business, My Goodness Market. She said she has the same signs there and was not cited for those.

Get your chill on at our sister restaurant @mygoodnesspgh with a pint of Pittsburgh famous @millie_icecream pic.twitter.com/mAxope1snD

— Square Cafe (@TheSquareCafe) July 28, 2020

Edgewood Borough manager Rob Zahorchak said Square Cafe received a warning letter saying the signs did not comply with the borough’s ordinance, and that it could face a possible citation.

He said the borough has rules for all businesses governing the number of signs, their size and where they are placed. Businesses are also required to apply for a sign permit, which needs approval.

“In this instance, none of that happened,” he said. “No one asked if they could do that. She was warned to please take them down to be in compliance, like every other restaurant and business in the borough. It is my understanding that it is the placement and the type and the number of signs that violated the zoning ordinance.”

He said he doesn’t plan to take any other action.

Former Edgewood Borough Council President George Fuller said he hadn’t heard about the citation. He said it’s unfortunate something couldn’t be worked out.

“She does a good business there and the food is good,” he said. “She takes care of her employees and you don’t always see that from restaurant owners. There’s something to be said for that.”