‘It’s going to be beautiful’: Deutschtown businesses, city leaders praise $600k investment

PITTSBURGH — Big things are happening along East Ohio Street, as crews work to improve eight facades in the North Side’s Deutschtown neighborhood. It’s all part of a $600,000 investment made by the City of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and East Ohio Capital LLC.

“Although it looks dusty now, give it six months, and it’s going to be beautiful,” said Kevin Hermann, an executive chef who showed Channel 11 the future home of 408 Heirloom – an 85-seat farm-to-table restaurant.

“The North Side is our home, and we really are dedicated to helping uplift it, to refresh it and revitalize it,” Hermann said.

408 Heirloom is set to open next year as part of the Bistro To Go family, a long-standing business here along East Ohio Street. Over the years, the facades of neighboring storefronts have faded, but that all changes now, with the revitalization project well underway.

“For us, as North Siders, especially for myself, I think it brings still some of that nostalgic character of what’s there, and you know, we want to keep that,” Councilman Bobby Wilson said.

It’s all part of the city’s Main & Main Initiative to invest in neighborhood business districts. The initiative has already transformed 77 facades citywide.

“The more we have a presence, talking to the business owners, talking to the local residents, what they need in these business districts, goes a long way as well,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said.

Bistro To Go’s expansion will also include a bakery across from where another owner just opened a gelato shop. Hermann told Channel 11 there are also plans for a Filipino restaurant on the corner.

“This used to be a booming, vibrant place, so really trying to give some honor to that, to what it used to be, and what it can be for the future,” Hermann said.

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