Spork Pit BBQ closing down, owner & developer looking to take their business out of Pittsburgh

Ambitious plans for a South Side restaurant have fallen through.

The owner and developer say they’re frustrated with the city and want no part of the South Side or Pittsburgh.

The site at the corner of 24th and Carson streets on the South Side was originally a gas station, then DoubleWide Grille and most recently, Spork Pit Barbeque.

Spork Pit Barbecue is closing down on Tuesday. The owners say they had high hopes to do more with it, but the city repeatedly rejected their plans.

Partners Andy Tepper and Steve Zumoff envisioned “Spork Island Trading Company,” a tiki bar with a 16-foot volcano.

But the city’s Historic Review Commission rejected it.

“It wasn’t just ‘Well, make a few changes and we’ll work with you,’ It was like, ‘Hell no,’ Like, nothing,” Tepper said.

Tepper was also frustrated that more basic renovation plans for the interior were also turned down by building inspectors - saying delays and repeated applications meant operating the current business at a loss.

Channel 11 asked about the future of Spork Island Trading Company.

“So we’re certainly not going to do that on the Southside, probably not City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, probably the further we get away from Pittsburgh, the better that it’s less of a hassle to do anything,” Tepper said.

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