Smokin Ghosts BBQ

By Destiny Dixon

Located along the North Shore’s Thomas J. Murphy Trail in what’s known as Peggy’s Harbor sits a lunch spot called Smokin Ghosts BBQ, named after owner Don Garrett’s family’s love of ghost hunting.

Garrett took his passion for barbecue to the next level after selling his I.T. company three years ago.

He and his team originally anticipated opening up a storefront in the Northside. However, once the COVID-19 pandemic began to affect restaurants nationwide, his plans were completely nixed. That left him, like many business owners, looking to find a way to stay afloat.

Garrett’s scheme to have a food truck, though, happened before the idea of having a storefront location.

“With the original [stationary] food truck, we decided that there was not a lot of foot traffic here to actually do a lot of business. So, we bought the mobile food truck and when that happened, that’s when COVID-19 hit everything,” he said.

For Garrett, the focus for the mobile food truck was to use it to cater big, corporate events. But with them all being canceled because of statewide social distancing guidelines, Smokin Ghosts was left parked at Peggy’s Harbor.

“At first, there wasn’t a lot of business. But, what people started doing is calling us, like the HOAs (Homeowners Associations) from communities all around Pittsburgh, saying: ‘We have 65 houses here. Nobody’s going out to restaurants. Can you bring your food truck at five’o o'clock at night gy’s Harbor have caught on to the bold and comforting flavors of the deep South that Smokin Ghosts specializes in. On a sunny Saturday afternoon, don’t be surprised to see local boaters, bicyclists, and runners alike in line, hungry to get a taste of

the food truck’s most popular menu items, such as the melt-in-your-mouth Pork Belly Burnt-End Tacos and the spicy Smoked

Photo: Destiny Dixon

Smokin Ghosts BBQ, owned by Don Garrett, has survived the initial trials of the COVID-19 pandemic and may soon become a contender for TV's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."

and serve dinner?’ ... That’s how we were able to survive,” Garrett shared.

The adventurer communities of PegJalapeno Cheddar Sausage. Add a side of cornbread pudding or classic country-style “mac n cheese” to your meal and you have the perfect Southern comfort food made with passion and care. Garrett and his team’s warm-hearted hospitality make the food all the more delicious.

“Owning a barbecue business is not like a regular restaurant business because it takes us days to prep,” Garrett explained. “It takes our larger meats 15 hours to smoke. If we’re only serving 10 people, it doesn’t make sense… Some people will call us and say, ‘Are you going to be open Saturday? I have 15 people going on a bike ride and we want to stop for lunch.’”

Smokin Ghosts applied to be a contender on the popular Food Network television show, “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives” after a mix of satisfied customer recommendations and the staff’s love for the show themselves. An online petition has been made so the restaurant can gain exposure nationwide. With high hopes, the staff is still waiting to hear about a definite feature on the show.

Smokin Ghosts BBQ loves and cares about their community just as much as it does about them, and it shows in the food. Follow them on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/smokinghostsbbq and Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/smokinghostsbbq/ for weekly specials, schedule updates, and events. n

YINZBURGH! COMICS By Nils Hanczar

North Shore to host rebranded ‘Yinzer 4.12K’ this month

Visit our website: www.thenorthsidechronicle.com for news about Northside real estate, events, & more.

By Dean Ciocca

Following a partnership with P3R, the Light of Life Rescue Mission’s annual Yinzer 5K has been renamed and rerouted, paying homage to the Steel City’s area code and covering distances around PNC Park and Voeghtly Street.

Photo: Yinzer 4.12K

A runner waves a Terrible Towel on the 2019 Yinzer race course.

The race’s new name, the “Yinzer 4.12K” will take place on August 14, 2021 on the North Shore, and invites Pittsburghers of all ages and athletic levels to run and participate in other activities such as a black and gold-themed “Best Yinzer” Costume Contest, and the Lil’ Yinzer one-mile Fun Run.

“This is the ninth year for our Yinzer race and we are honored to partner with P3R”, said Jerrel Gilliam, director of the Light of Life Rescue Mission, an organization that, according to a press release, since 2018, has raised $63,000 for charitable causes thanks to this event.

This year, course building duties have been handed off to premiere athletic event planners P3R, the company responsible for organizing the DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon and other top-tier fitness endeavors.

“As our newest neighbors in the North Shore, we are so excited to partner with Light of Life on this year’s event,” says Troy Schooley, P3R CEO. “Through this partnership, we are focused on bringing a unique course and our operational expertise to enhance this year’s event and benefit Light of Life’s Mission.”

Since 1952 Light of Life Rescue Mission has provided shelter and rehabilitation to those facing homelessness, addiction, and poverty. n

Hands Over Deutschtown

Allegheny City Central

Great Dame L.P. to Trevor Ridilla at Eloise St. (VACANT LAND) for $49,000. Estate of Ronald Schultheis to Windsor Capital LLC at 107 Parkhurst St. for $420,000. Joshua Cozby to Anne and Clare Farris at 318 Jacksonia St. for $268,041. Tyler Norman to Nicholas Dardenne and Panayiota Govas at 1706 Buena Vista St. for $471,500. TPX Holdings LLC to East Jefferson Develop LLC at 128 E Jefferson St. for $66,918. Patriot Investment Properties Inc. to HPD North LLC at 842 Jacksonia St. for $540,000. Kevin Kuntz to Ian Brasted and Laura Lovely at 1526 Monterey St. for $450,000. Jefferson Town Homes in the War Streets to Robert Duca, Debora Chiaraluna, 519 W Jefferson St., $590,000. Robert Felix to Ricardo Simmons and Jon Tyillian at 613 W Jefferson St. for $400,000.

Brighton Heights

William Carper Jr. to PGH Living Matter LLC at 3269 Bainton St. for $25,000. Xiaozhen Chen to Good & Moore Real Estate Holdings LLC at 1901 Termon Ave. for $290,000. Haven Home Builders LLC to Michael and Carlene Halmo at 1461 Benton Ave. for $370,000. Susannah Creen to Moxie Venture LLC at 3625 California Ave. for $230,000. Robert Spanik to Kathleen Beatty at 3523 Campus St. for $44,500. Jesse Ecker to Colin Arthur Bates and Emily Jane Bell at 3990 Drexel Road for $190,000. Estate of Cecelia Thompson to Emily Matschner at 4010 Shoreham St. for $100,000. David Critchlow to Michelle Porter at 1821 Wittmer St. for $236,000. Wells Fargo Bank NA to Macario Glover Hing at 3755 Atkins St. for $37,900. Christopher Eisengart to Garrett and Justin Miller at 826 Benton Ave. for $115,000. Ella Slaughter to Hallima Abdalla and Mohamed Ali at 4012 Brighton Road for $160,000. Erin Springer to William Benedict Hardy and Marissa Graber at 1005 Davis Ave. for $340,000. Gregory Lou to Mark Poston at 1805 Fairlee St. for $315,000. Robert Dramble to Alexa Miller trustee at 3815 Mcclure Ave. for $45,000. Daniel Kirsch to GT Property Holdings LLC at 1706 Termon Ave. for $90,000. Matthew Brindamour to Timothy Lawrence and Kristen Leuschen at 1201 West Point Ave. for $190,000. Chad Wise to Mark Schinzel at 3822 Wilksboro Ave. for $195,000. Alia Properties LLC to Triple T Res LLC at 4028 Northminister St. for $232,501.

East Deutschtown

Ian Miller to Justin Cullen at 825 Concord St. for $375,000. 818 Phineas Street Land Trust to Samantha Jo Fabin at 818 Phineas St. for $197,500. Frank Sentak to Melius Capital Fund 3 LLC at 900 Wettach St. for $85,000. Bernard Grady to Taylor and Marvin Ledgister at 902 Constance St. for $125,000. Andrew Briggs to Claire McCue at 915 Wettach St. for $315,000. Ariel Barasch to Kevin Kraft at 930 Peralta St. for $235,000.

Fineview

Matthew Bartlett to Jonathan Paul Hanrahan and Sarah Ann Axtell at 434 Catoma St. for $142,785. Alaina Investment Co. LLC to Paul Schacht and Hannah Gerbe at 1729 Warren St. for $169,000.

Historic Deutschtown

Joshua Glover to Kathleen Dapper at 615 Avery St. for $275,000. Graf Partners Development LLC to Nicholas Cary Rivers at 618 Lockhart St. for $275,000. Shelton Carney to Yarnovich Capital LLC at 910 James St. for $170,000.

Manchester

Western Avenue Assoc. to Cedarwood Commercial Properties L.P. at 1424 Western Ave. for $3,150,000.

Marshall-Shadeland

Steel City Observer Investment Group LLC to AJ Bigelow LLC at 2330 Atmore St. for $50,000. Ibuypittsburgh Inc. to Redo Consulting LLC at 1034 Rothpletz St. for $38,900. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Adam Mubarak at 1017 Hall St. for $13,007. The High Return Pittsburgh MultiFamily F to Matthew Michael Spolsky at 233 Marshall Ave. for $175,000. Russell Laubach trustee to Roy Holiday IV at 2822 Shadeland Ave. for $5,000. WGMAC LLC to Ambreia Dozier at 2916 Wadlow St. for $92,675. Anthony Brown to SFR3-020 LLC at 1403 Woodland Ave. for $70,000. 4th Quarter Realty Group Inc. to Vincent Jones at 1350 Geyer Ave. for $106,000. Helena Schaefers to Earthlow Holdings LLC at 1 Tumbo St. for $70,000.

Observatory Hill

Mark Ogara to Kenneth Charles Jae at 3751 Baytree St. for $135,000. Gregory Sovek to Delia Veschi at 211 Bascom Ave. for $139,900. Shachar Pooyae to Michael Petyak and Renee Monahan at 14 Montana St. for $139,900. Tanisha Wilkes to Brian Dourlain at 317 Venture St. for $122,500. JSSCRE LLC to Dylan Connor Thomas Dunlop at 3032 Viola St. for $187,500.

Perry Hilltop

Allegheny Property Solutions LLC to I Work Solution LLC at 2121 Federal Street Ext. for $28,000. David Splittberger to Natasha Neira at 2212 Perrysville Ave. for $195,000. Derrick Olszewski to SFR3-000 LLC at 527 McClintock Ave. for $98,000. John Lewis Jr. to North Shore Investments LLC at 1932 Morris St. for $20,000.

Spring Garden

NCRC Housing Rehab Fund LLC to Tyler Andrews at 1124 Voskamp St. for $287,000. Fifth Ave Property Group LLC to 30:15 Investments LLC at 1326 Diana St. for $5,000.

Spring Hill

Arthur Mustakas to Katharyn Gaslowitz and Hannah Dobbs at 25 Solar St. for $60,000. CKSBS Investments LLC to FG Real Est Investments LLC at 1155 Buente St. Unit 1 for $92,000. Justin Waddell to Joseph Roy and Laura Greenberg at 2115 Rockledge St. for $330,000.

Summer Hill

William Gendron to William Halcomb at 4476 Highridge St. for $166,750. Jon Stunja to Juliana and Tracy Mee at 4455 Cherryland St. for $185,000. Gregory Zeitler to Jodi Campbell at 125 Ivory Ave. for $175,000.

Troy Hill

H1 Management LLC to Philip Coiro at 1127 Goettman St. for $115,000. John Schweizer to Oliver Morrison at 1378 Herman St. for $153,000. Steven Guyton to Thomas and Cynthia Hart at 40 Waterfront Drive for $592,500. Estate of John Barron to Walter Lee Buchanan II at 2145 Lowrie St. for $58,000. Estate of Lori Sabol to Joshua Hubert at 1912 Tours St. for $115,000. Thomas Hart to Brittany Weber at 52 Waterfront Drive for $480,000.