Oct. 2021 Est. 1985
The Northside Chronicle
Volume 37 Issue 10 - FREE -
The Community Newspaper of Pittsburgh’s Historic Northside
Pittsburgh's Premier Destination for Local Beer
Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe celebrates 40 years
Over 500 Beers & 80 Local Rotating Taps Always more than 300 Local beers in stock 110 Federal St. Pittsburgh’s North Shore
ACROSS FROM PNC PARK MikesBeerBar.com 412-322-BEER
A family friendly mindfulness movement is starting in Pittsburgh’s Northside By Ashlee Green Mindfulness doesn’t have to be exercised in silence. According to Cityview Church Pastor Leeann Younger, who is starting a family friendly mindfulness pilot program this fall with facilitator Mark Williams, there’s an aspect of it that can be “practiced while your kids are running See Mindfulness, Page 8
INSIDE
Photo: Lauren Stauffer
A frequent haunt of Northside politicians, Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe in Allegheny West started 40 years ago with just three staff members and a menu of classic sandwiches including Reubens and Dagwoods. Over the years, Founder and Owner Nick Mastros has embraced a spirit of experimentation and continues to bring 'fresh talent' into the kitchen. Full story below. By Sylvan Lebrun After weathering the first stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and reopening early this year, the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe is back in full swing as they ring in 40 years of business on the Northside. Founder and owner Nick Mastros still works in the place every day, side by side with his 93-year-old mother Helen. When he was just 23, Mastros bought and rehabilitated the building at 822 Western Ave—previously an electrical repair shop—in order to create his own restaurant inside, which opened just a year later. His only prior experience was washing and
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bussing dishes at a few of Pittsburgh’s highend restaurants, but he felt that the time was right to make a bold move. With this, Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe was born— and as Mastros describes it, it was “pretty smooth sailing” until the pandemic hit. Starting with just three staff members, the Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe expanded in time to reach a peak of about 30 employees. While at the helm of the restaurant, Mastros was able to hone his skills as a businessman and meet local celebrities and fellow restaurateurs who helped “propel [him] to the next level.” Mastros, who also operates an event parking business on the Northside, said that at one point, he was
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running four other restaurants throughout Pittsburgh, all through local government contracts. He has since reduced his workload back down to one other location—a restaurant located in the Allegheny County Family Division government office, which is, at the time of printing, still closed due to COVID-19. He has a staff of nine at the main restaurant on Western Avenue, which is currently open Tuesday through Saturday, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. A resident and a business owner in the historic Allegheny West district, Mastros See Sandwich, Page 9
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