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heywhadayamean t1_j6kmxfq wrote

Finally time for me to open Beet Sabbath.

Or Judith Peach

Or Mötley Crüditès

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Cohomology_ t1_j6kr8xp wrote

Between the Berried and Me?

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_n_o_r_t_h_ t1_j6kx66f wrote

Rage Against The Cuisine?

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rigatti t1_j6lis4w wrote

> Or Mötley Crüditès

No one wants a Dr. Oz themed restaurant.

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_smojface t1_j6mtssw wrote

I like their food and been a couple times over the years, but Onion Maiden is one of the worst puns I’ve ever heard

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timesuck OP t1_j6k9jve wrote

According to the post, it could be a temp hiatus or permanent. They’re not sure yet.

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SearchingDeepSpace t1_j6lsy60 wrote

This is similar to what Pear & the Pickle said before they shut down. I hope OM can continue but would not be shocked if they decide to walk.

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Evening_Ad_2906 t1_j6muj90 wrote

Friends of friends say the owners possibly want to start a family and the business is just a lot.

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TypicalWhiteGiant t1_j6kp16q wrote

Onion Maiden is the best - this is definitely not because of lack of business. Hope they can figure out a path forward that will allow me to continue eating their food, but I can definitely empathize with the lack of work/life balance being an independent owner/operator in the business can give you

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chuckie512 t1_j6kihua wrote

That's sad, they're always packed.

It'll leave that niche open, hopefully someone else can come in to fill it.

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WololoYourWife t1_j6kj1fx wrote

I have a friend opening up a vegan food truck in April. It's all international street food veganized. So might fill that niche a little bit? Definitely not as hard core punk rock as Onion Maiden!

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Sunfish-Studio t1_j6nyrp6 wrote

I'll definitely be there! Can you post their info when it's open?

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kieraey t1_j6mvpwo wrote

It is sad. I love that place. It’s easy to see why it’s always packed if you’ve tried the food. Ugh, OM will be missed so much. Seriously filling an important niche in the local veg scene. I hope this inspires more veg restaurants to open up in pgh.

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twistedevil t1_j6l1wru wrote

Boo, I'm not even a vegan and I really enjoy that place. I hope they can maybe delegate, hire some good managers, and figure out the balance they are looking for.

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Nite_Boat t1_j6l0bi2 wrote

NOOOOOO. Pittsburgh vegan scene is lagging behind the rest of the country pretty hard. This would be a big blow

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entrepenoori t1_j6lym9o wrote

If Apteka ever closes this New Yorker will come down and protest. One of my favorite restaurants of all time

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enemy_of_your_enema t1_j6n108h wrote

I worry that Apteka is also on their way out, as they are only open 3 nights a week.

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entrepenoori t1_j6n6rb9 wrote

They seem to do what so many small businesses start doing. Make their money sure, but eventually it slows down the earnings potential and leads to a spiral that leads to just downing tools. I hope they don’t because they seem passionate about what it is they do (they are extremely unique I’ve spoken to vegan Poles in Europe who were blown away this exists)

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InTheZayn t1_j6nj95c wrote

idk if this is exactly what you're referring to, but it seems like a lot of new restaurants open up with "normal" hours and then drastically cut them back once they've established themselves as a success, presumably thinking they make so much money with their original hours that they can cut back but still be sustainable. And in the short term that's true, but the problem is that they've then made themselves harder and harder to patronize, and they lose much more business than they expect. Apteka is my favorite restaurant in the city and I haven't been there since the pandemic started because their hours are so limited. My brother was visiting awhile ago and I tried to take him there, saw they were only open three fucking days a week, and just gave up.

Pittsburgh has way, way too many local restaurants (and other businesses) that make themselves needlessly difficult to patronize.

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segfaultxr7 t1_j6oe33m wrote

> Pittsburgh has way, way too many local restaurants (and other businesses) that make themselves needlessly difficult to patronize.

It's like the "only in the mood for Chick-Fil-A on Sunday" problem, but for half the week! I'll try to eat somewhere and find that they won't be open for 3 more days, or they are open, but only for dinner and I need lunch. Or vice versa. Eventually I lose all interest and quit trying.

And then there are the times where all the stars align, I call in an order, and they act like I'm crazy for trying to buy something that doesn't exist. Because their menu on their website is 6 years out of date, and I'm supposed to just magically know that.

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InTheZayn t1_j6ogfk3 wrote

I hesitate to even reference them specifically because I know I'm going to get overwhelmed by folks raving about them, but there's that donut place in the West End that's supposed to be the absolute best donuts in the city, and they sell out by like 9am every day. Why in the world would I ever go there? In literally every other city I've ever lived in or visited frequently, if you ask what the "best" of something is, you are reliably told about a place that operates like a normal business that you can just...go to. When you ask that question in Pittsburgh, though, the answer is always some place in a neighborhood you've never heard of, somehow it's never anywhere near you (no matter where you live), they're only open for 30 minutes one Thursday per month, and they accept every currency except the US dollar.

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esushi t1_j6ocrp2 wrote

I overheard the owner saying they make more profit on their "wine-bar-only" nights than dinner nights for, like, 1% of the work. Eek!

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__she__wolf t1_j6lse9r wrote

Huge blow to the Pgh restaurant scene. This is a destination spot for out-of-towners, vegans, vegetarians, and metal heads. Even people who enjoy meat can’t deny that their food is amazing. Black Forge shut down their Allentown location and now this. I’m bummed for the neighborhood. I hope the owners get their respite and decide to come back someday soon! And let’s not make assumptions as to WHY they came to this decision. Life is nuts. Shit happens. I wish them all the best.

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Weary-Stomach6950 t1_j6lxqjh wrote

Just wanted to let you know that Black Forge is still open! The owner of the Weeping Glass bought it so it’s still open just under new ownership. Still as good as ever

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LockedOutOfElfland t1_j6kpyrw wrote

I've bought from them at the Bloomfield Saturday Market but never been to the restaurant. I liked what they had going on and am hoping they stick around in some form.

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--jawnday-- t1_j6kpnav wrote

Noooo I was just there last night.

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OutrageForSale t1_j6llj5v wrote

This ruined my night. Totally deflating. We need more of these places, not less (fewer?).

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LimeMime565 t1_j6n3w99 wrote

Goddamit. Now's it's just the zenith and apteka. I can't lose that poutine

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damnital t1_j6kxap4 wrote

this is so sad

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nopantsforfatties t1_j6m48h2 wrote

It's sad, but not surprising. Being a small business owner is usually a thankless job, and you don't get nearly as much support (and free marketing) as the bigger outfits. Pittsburgh is a closed off community when it comes to restaurants and retail in a lot of ways, and cult followings are often not enough to keep these places going. It's a damn popularity contest out there and as much as we don't want to admit it (and as cool as this sub is), for the most part, we're a basic bitch city 🤷

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enemy_of_your_enema t1_j6n0ci8 wrote

Onion Maiden is always crowded, though. I don't think this has anything to do with lack of business.

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Hi_Im_A t1_j6n1ii6 wrote

Nooooooo 😭 😭 😭 😭 😭

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AxsDeny t1_j6lsphx wrote

Huh. I’ve never heard of this place. I hope I am able to check it out before they close.

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Sunfish-Studio t1_j6o79gg wrote

That's so sad, but I can definitely see how running something like this would take a toll on someone. I've loved cooking my while life and had .y parents and some friends ask why I never had any interest doing it for a living, and it's because even as a cook alone it seems so stressful, let alone managing an entire restaurant.

I really hope it stays open but more than anything hope the owners find something that works for them, even if it means a great vegan place closes down

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Hand_Banana_0082 t1_j6ok9eo wrote

Sucks. I always loved their Aqua Poutine Hunger Force.

1

jazzman_jr t1_j6mullo wrote

Great food...bad location.

−3

chuckie512 t1_j6mwsfg wrote

Works fine for them, given that it's always full

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jazzman_jr t1_j6n1bb9 wrote

If it was always full, they wouldn't be closing. Bad location.

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chuckie512 t1_j6n378u wrote

Lol read their post. They're closing because they haven't figured out a work life balance, not because of finances.

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Rigelface t1_j6n36lq wrote

They're not closing due to lack of business.

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jazzman_jr t1_j6ncdoq wrote

They can say whatever they want, but if business was booming, you don't close down shop, you hire more people. Allentown isn't a safe area. So no, business wasn't booming.

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hybrid_throwaway_ t1_j6mrsaf wrote

not surprised, there's literally no vegan scene in pittsburgh. even in the vegan pgh facebook group people talk about eating cheese pretty regularly and have to recommend stuff like mad mex. makes me sad

−5

SgtChuckle t1_j6llx4o wrote

Does the tone of this make anyone else mad? I guess the owners are tired and I'm sure they contributed a major part to making the machine work but just putting all their employees out of work bc they couldn't figure their own shit out and delegate is cold. Any business they start after their little r&r break certainly won't get my patronage regardless of pedigree

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tesla3by3 t1_j6lzd9g wrote

You should hire them. But seriously, OM is doing it right instead of just locking the doors and putting up a sign.

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Courageous_Chameleon t1_j6lm9s0 wrote

Huh? Their employees are going to have 2 months to find new jobs.

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SgtChuckle t1_j6lmvs5 wrote

I'm sure they're thrilled to leave their position at a popular spot that tips relatively well, all in cash

−4

Courageous_Chameleon t1_j6lnrer wrote

Right, but the owners aren't obligated to keep a restaurant open to maintain jobs for their employees, and 2 months' notice is pretty reasonable.

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stadulevich t1_j6lbp1r wrote

location, location, location

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Itsjustataco t1_j6l8ixr wrote

I thought the already closed, last year?

−15

Open_Philosopher8020 t1_j6kzjhd wrote

Might have a bit more stamina if they diversified their diet

−90

__she__wolf t1_j6lrrt4 wrote

Their menu is what makes this place so popular. Secondly the theme of the restaurant. They are literally packed all the time. There is no need to “diversify”.

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enemy_of_your_enema t1_j6n1cbc wrote

Sometimes meat eaters get offended by the existence of people who abstain from meat.

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Nite_Boat t1_j6l02xk wrote

You need to watch Game Changers documentary. It's the opposite in fact

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