Salvatore’s recently had a ribbon cutting to officially celebrate receiving Wilkinsburg’s first liquor license.
Free pizza and beer was served in the dining section and with a flat screen TV showing college football in the background, the place resembled Buffalo Wild Wings more than the classic pizzeria it began as when it first opened its doors in 1984.
Wilkinsburg used Forrest Hills as an example on how to base their liquor ordinances since until a few years ago they were dry as well. When Forrest Hills successfully implemented their transition, the WCDC (Wilkinsburg Community Development Corporation) knew it had to keep up.
Marlee Gallagher, Communications and Outreach Coordinator at the WCDC described the process that led them to the conclusion that libations were the liquid to quench Wilkinsburg’s economic thirst. “Urban Partners firm did a market analysis and that was one of their recommendations to grow the business district, the night life needed to improve,” Gallagher said.
“You don’t just want a business district that shuts down at night. You want a business district that is vibrant and alive that gives people a place to go to, but also maintain safety in the business district so that you don’t have a period of the night where no one is walking around and it’s kind of shady and sketchy and no one wants to go there. Its important to have a mixture of places that are open for breakfast lunch dinner and then after hours.”
Gallagher said when she took on the initiative in 2013 people’s overwhelming skepticism that wine could work meant they couldn’t even get enough signatures to get it on the ballot. They needed 1100 signatures and fell well short. In 2015 the CDC launched an educational campaign that included two public meetings that involved the Pennsylvania liquor control board representatives speaking to and answering directly to the people who had any concerns.
“Any cons I could think of they helped to address,” said Councilwoman and alcohol advocate Marita Garrett. “Council has taken measures to avoid a nuisance bar.” The campaign was successful this year and the initiative got 1301 signatures and was voted up in May with more than 70 percent of the vote. In June, Salvatore’s applied for their license and got approved in September.
However, not everyone is encouraged by this decision. Peter Smith, pastor at Covenant Fellowship Reformed Presbyterian Church in Wilkinsburg and Wilkinsburg resident.
“As a pastor of a church that was historically a temperance supporting church, our stance is that it is fitting and proper for Christians to abstain from the manufacture, sale and use of alcohol,” he said.
While admitting even his church has softened a bit on alcohol. “We are no longer a temperance church but that’s our position to simply say there are more dangers with it than benefits, so I did not sign the petition nor did I vote for it. I’m neutral on the ban. I don’t think it will make a big difference. It might bring a restaurant or economic benefit but will come with some cost as well.” He said, acknowledging Wilkinsburg already has a beer distributor across the street from Salvatore’s.
Gallagher said she hasn’t seen any other license applications come through but that everyone who wants to apply for a liquor license has to have a public meeting. Wilkinsburg being only 16,000 residents will only be eligible for 5 liquor licenses and the cost of each can be prohibitive – approximately $80,000.
Councilwoman Garrett points to this as a reason why people shouldn’t be worried about things getting out of control. “For anyone who is serious about getting that has to be a legit serious business to even put that [money] up so I think having that type of revenue can show the type of investment they have in Wilkinsburg,” she said.
Salvatore DiPasquale, owner of Salvatore’s said it’s another component to offer existing customers. “Pizza and wings go with beer,” he said, even though he admits he still will not be opening up on Sundays for football. “We don’t have a lot of free time so that’s why we decided to close on Sundays because that’s our day together and with our families and do housework and such.”
Gallagher said they are doing a new market analysis that will be finished in December. In the mean time most people believe that there will be good and bad that comes with it, with an overall hope that it will be a net benefit. Wilkinsburg Chief of Police Ophelia Coleman said that so far there has not been any criminal activity related to patrons involving spirits from the restaurant.
J.L. Martello contributed to this article.
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