Walnut Grill plans a 6th area location next year
Walnut Grill continues to expand. The company plans to open 2021 with a sixth restaurant.
The newest Walnut Grill American Eatery & Bar will be at the Old Mill Shopping Mall in Washington, Pa., located in a former Max & Erma’s restaurant.
Going against industry trends, it will be the third new location for Walnut Grill since the pandemic started. The Bethel Park spot opened in July, following the May opening of another Walnut Grill in St. Louis.
“It may be odd to open three new locations within the covid-19 pandemic,” said Kirk Vogel, president of Walnut Grill Holdings, in a statement. “However, we believe restaurants will be around long after the pandemic, and we want to be there when our guests are ready to gather again with friends and family.”
Walnut Grill opened its first restaurant in 1999. In addition to Bethel Park, the other area locations are in Bridgeville, Fox Chapel area, Robinson and Pine. The new St. Louis spot is the fourth in that metro area.
All Walnut Grill venues offer outdoor dining in addition to indoor seating, plus the curbside pickup and delivery that has become standard during the pandemic. Vogel said having a patio definitely helped business, with cooperative weather and more people wanting to eat outside in general. At the new Washington location, the patio will be extended and covered.
If space in areas such as Monroeville, Murrysville and Greensburg becomes available, Vogel said Walnut Grill will consider opening there to expand the company’s footprint.
Renovations should begin in two weeks. The new location will have a similar look to the Bethel Park restaurant with more of an open feel and a closer connection between the inside dining room and the outside patio, he said, so they feel like one unit.
Vogel said he wanted to wait to open until after the first of year; training and hiring staff in the holiday season can be difficult. “We also want to concentrate on the restaurants we have and make sure our guests have the best holiday they can have this year,” he said.
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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