Renovations at Noviello’s Sunset Café are Finished

Noviello's Sunset Café Has a New Bar and Dining Room   

Anna Jo Noviello in front of
the newly renovated bar

Anna Jo and Bob Noviello are excited to talk about the recent renovations of Noviello’s Sunset Café on Urania Avenue in downtown Greensburg. After working closely with the contractor for six months, they are very happy with the new design of the main dining room, restrooms, bar, and both entrances. The Italian restaurant has been in existence since 1933, and was the first in Greensburg to serve Pizza and Pasta. Anna Jo and Bob welcome customers that want to see the new venue or simply want to try the delicious menu items, wines, and cocktails.

According to Anna Jo, “the whole project grew out of needing a new waiting room.” It was too small and easily congested by customers waiting during dinner time, so something had to be done. During the early part of the waiting room renovation, ideas kept flowing around and suddenly, Noviello’s Sunset Café was in the middle of a full-fledged renovation affecting most of the first floor.

For Anna Jo, creating the new interior design was a simple process. She wanted the dining room and bar to be comfortable, modern, and reflect the focus of the menu which includes several seasonal dishes. Anna Jo decided to use the stone wall in the restaurant’s dining room as a basis for an earth-tone color palette that is calm, yet modern and upbeat. Her interest and ability for interior design resulted in a new look that has all come together.

The restaurant's history wall with
items found during the renovations

Guests will notice that the restaurant’s history could not be ignored during this project. Noviello’s Sunset Café has been family-owned since its opening after prohibition in 1933, when the Pantalone family turned it from a grocery store into an Italian restaurant and bar. “We’re proud of our history,” Anna Jo states. “We wanted to keep that history and found a unique way of blending it in with our new style.” During the renovations, the contractors found numerous historical items such as bottle caps, old menus, match boxes, and posters that are now immortalized in the ‘history wall’ at the entrance.

Despite the extent of the project, Anna Jo was surprised at how few problems she and Bob encountered. “It was the smoothest renovation we have ever done,” she notes. After fearing that the project would be a nightmare before its start, she now actually misses the contractors coming in to work on the renovation every day.

Try one of Noviello Sunset
Cafe's many delicious Italian
dishes this summer!

The customer response to the renovations has been both positive and supportive. As Anna Jo proudly states, “we have not had a single bad response to it.” She admits that she was originally worried because many customers are uncomfortable with change. Anna Jo and Bob made sure that the essential parts of the customer experience remained unchanged. Guests can still find their favorite dish, spend an evening with family, and enjoy quality homemade seasonal dishes for the same prices as before. The option of reserving a table was added to shorten waiting times during dinner.

Noviello’s Sunset Café is open Tuesday through Sunday, starting at 4 p.m. Both walk-ins and reservations under (724) 834-9903 are welcome. For more information about the restaurant’s history, menus, and specials, visit the website of Noviello’s Sunset Café at www.sunsetcafepa.com.

Cooking Classes this summer at The Supper Club

It's that Time of Year Again; Cooking Classes at The Supper Club!

There's always enough to taste at The
Supper Club's cooking classes!

Starting May 22nd, The Supper Club Restaurant at the Greensburg Train Station will start its Summer Cooking Classes, open for anyone interested in a Sunday full of listening, learning, eating, drinking, and of course cooking! The sessions will be two hours each, and consist of informative demonstrations of 5-7 meals, generous tasting portions of each item prepared, specifically paired wines, beers and / or cocktails and even ‘Mocktails’ for the young adults.

The first class will take place on May 22nd from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, and is centered on the topic of "Farmer’s Market Finds." Here, participants can learn how to make fresh, healthful, and creative dishes that come straight from local seasonal markets. After this session, you will know why buying straight from the farmer is always best! Other topics include learning specific local produce that is at its peak between the months of May and September, the benefits of grass fed beef, pork, and chicken, and a comparison of farm-fresh vs. store-bought eggs. In other words, this class is the perfect opportunity to learn more about all the benefits of farmer’s markets and how to utilize them in the kitchen!

The second class, titled "Master the Art of Grilling," will take place on Sunday, June 19th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM and focuses on everyone's favorite summer food. Participants learn tricks of the trade when using the grill, together with tips on how to spice up their food with sauces, marinades, and rubs. After this class, you will realize that grills aren't just for steak and chicken, but can be used for vegetables, breads, and even deserts! If you are looking for a way to learn something new during grilling season, this class is a perfect match.

Finally, "Cooking with your Kids" on Sunday, July 17th from 3:00 to 5:00 PM will be a great class for summer vacation. This is The Supper Club's most requested class, and centers on easy and healthful snacks, meals, and deserts that the entire family can make and enjoy. Participants learn how to prepare economical meals that are well-balanced and nutritious, as well as meals that are easy to freeze and eat left over. This class will help you achieve your goal of wanting your family to eat adventurous while still keeping health and nutrition in mind.

The space in these classes is limited, so early registration is strongly suggested. Participation in each class costs $50 per person; however, when booking and paying all three classes together, a $20 discount applies. For more information or to register for a class, please contact The Supper Club via phone at (724) 691-0536 ext. #2, or via email at info@supperclubgreensburg.com. And most importantly, enjoy your newly-learned cooking skills!

Business Person Profile: Todd Lash, co-owner of Charlie's

An Interview with Charlie’s Todd Lash

What types of food are on your menu? Do you have any unique foods?

Charlie’s offers burgers, subs, wraps, hot dogs, gyros, salads, pizza and breakfast items. Charlie’s is the only donut shop in downtown Greensburg.

When was Charlie’s established?

Charlie’s started as an ice cream stand over 30 years ago. Todd took over in the fall of 2009 and added a bakery. The donut and food menus were established in 2010 at the Monroeville location. The Greensburg shop was opened February 1st of this year.

Why did you choose to open your business in Greensburg?

Greensburg is a growing community. We took advantage of the opportunity to lease the best location in Greensburg; the corner of W. Otterman Street.

What is your bestselling item?

The pepperoni and spinach rolls are a favorite followed by the Italian hoagie.

What are the key points of your store’s downtown location?

The store’s location is central to most business activity in the City and across from Seton Hill's Performing Arts Center.

How has your business contributed to the growing downtown?

Charlie’s has offered a low-priced menu to city residents since opening Super Bowl weekend.  The combination of fast service and classic favorite foods appeals to our customers.

What specifically do you enjoy about owning your own business?

Todd and his partner enjoy making all the decisions; they are able to make changes immediately to capitalize on opportunities.

What is your educational background?

Todd has an associate’s degree in electronics, but has 10 years of experience in the field of restaurant management. He dabbled in the fields of electronics and real estate for a few years before returning to the food business.

What are your hobbies and/or interests?

Todd enjoys traveling when the opportunity arises, along with spending time with his family outside of his busy schedule.

In early May, Charlie’s will be offering online ordering and possibly delivery to downtown offices! Visitwww.charliesicecream.com for more information.

18 West Second Street Retail Space

126 South Pennsylvania Avenue Retail Space

104 South Pennsylvania Avenue Retail Space

100 South Pennsylvania Avenue Retail Space